The New Zealand Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General (LG) Timothy Keating, called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence this morning. LG Keating, who is in Singapore for his introductory visit from 26 to 28 November 2015, also called on Chief of Defence Force Major-General Perry Lim, inspected a Guard of Honour, and visited the Information Fusion Centre. As part of his programme, LG Keating will be visiting the Multi-Mission Range Complex later this afternoon.

LG Keating's visit underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and New Zealand. Both armed forces interact regularly through bilateral exercises such as Exercise Lion Walk, multilateral exercises like Exercise Pitch Black, professional exchanges, and cross-attendance of courses. Both armed forces also have a long history of operational cooperation, as well as engagements under the ambit of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). These extensive interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two armed forces, as well as the professional rapport and ties between their personnel.