NEW YORK - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Singaporeans living in the US at a reception in New York on Sunday (March 27) during his week-long trip to New York and Washington.

Mr Lee spent over an hour chatting with the 400 or so people gathered, many of whom asked to take selfies with the Prime Minister.

In brief remarks to the crowd, Mr Lee urged them to keep in touch with Singapore and to continue to fly the flag in the US.

"You are all flying the flag for Singapore all the time... You are representing us and you will show what Singaporeans are and I think that is valuable.

"Keep in touch with home, keep in touch with us... Keep in touch and come home from time to time and one day come back home to Singapore," he said.

He added that he was here at an interesting time in American politics, noting that the coming US presidential election will have a bearing on Singapore and the rest of the world.

"It's the American election but the way America goes - what the mood of the country is and which leader they choose - is going to have an impact on the whole world. In New York, I shall have a chance to meet some people interested in the region to try and put us as a small dot on the radar screen."

Mr Lee is due to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Monday (March 28). He will head to Washington later in the week to participate in the 4th Nuclear Security Summit.