SINGAPORE, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his two-day official visit to Singapore on Monday.
Netanyahu received a ceremonial welcome at Istana, met with Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong respectively.
This is the first official visit by a Prime Minister of Israel to Singapore.
President Tan and Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed the strong and longstanding ties between Singapore and Israel and exchanged views on regional and international developments, according a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Monday.
On developments in the Middle East, Lee reiterated Singapore's longstanding and consistent position on the two-state solution, including Singapore's support for Israel's right to live within secure borders and in peace and also the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland, according to MFA.
He also expressed Singapore's hope that the Israelis and the Palestinians would resume direct negotiations to find a just, durable and comprehensive solution to the conflict.
MFA said both leaders also discussed on the cooperation in areas such as research and development, technical cooperation, housing policy and education.
