Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan is in New York for the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA on Thursday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Balakrishnan had a frank and wide-ranging discussion on global and regional trends with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. In a Facebook post, he said: "Always awed to meet the godfather of diplomacy Dr Henry Kissinger. As vigorous and sharp as ever at 94."

He also met Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration Hugo Hans Siblesz, and they exchanged views on ways of promoting multilateralism and international law.

Dr Balakrishnan also met the President of Kosovo, Mr Hashim Thaci, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Hungary, as well as several leaders of the Pacific Islands to reaffirm the good bilateral relations and discuss regional developments.