Singapore PM to visit New Zealand, Australia

Singapore's Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong is scheduled to pay an eight-day official visit to New Zealand and Australia from Oct. 6 to 13, local media reported on Friday. During his stay in New Zealand, Lee will call on the country's Governor-General Jerry Mateparae and his counterpart, Prime Minister John Key, according to channelnewsasia.com. Lee will also stop over at Australia's Melbourne, Rockhampton, Canberra and Sydney after his visit in New Zealand. He will call on Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott and key members of the Australian Cabinet, according to the report. The two PMs of Singapore and Australia will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on combating transnational crime and developing police cooperation between the two countries. Lee will also observe the Singapore Armed Forces troops taking part in Exercise Wallaby 2012 at Shoalwater Bay Training Area. It's the second official visit by Lee in New Zealand and Australia since he took office in 2004. His last official visit was in June, 2006.