Singapore's PM Lee congratulates New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern on daughter's birth

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner, television fishing personality Clarke Gayford, welcomed a baby girl on June 21, 2018. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to convey his congratulations on the birth of her first child on Thursday (June 21).

Ms Ardern and her partner, television fishing personality Clarke Gayford, welcomed a baby girl weighing 3.3kg on Thursday afternoon.

The news of the baby's birth was made public on the New Zealand leader's official Instagram account with a photo of the new parents smiling with their daughter, whose name has not been released.

"I was delighted to hear of the birth of your daughter, and would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to you and Clarke on this joyous occasion," PM Lee wrote in the letter according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"I have no doubt that your daughter will bring much happiness to your family. I wish you and your family the best of health, and I look forward to meeting you again soon."

In the post sharing the announcement of her daughter's birth, Ms Ardern wrote: "Welcome to our village wee one. Thank you so much for your best wishes and your kindness. We're all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital."

Ms Ardern, 37, is only the second world leader to give birth while in office after former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who delivered a baby girl in 1990.

She is currently on six weeks of maternity leave, with her deputy Winston Peters acting as Prime Minister in her absence.

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