Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who is on a three-day visit to Argentina, called on Argentinian President Mauricio Macri on Thursday, when both men discussed new areas for bilateral cooperation in food security, energy and technology.

Mr Macri also expressed interest in using Singapore as a hub to strengthen links between Latin America and Asia, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement yesterday.

Dr Balakrishnan also met Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra privately before both parties led their delegations in bilateral talks. Ms Malcorra later hosted Dr Balakrishnan to lunch.

Both ministers affirmed the "warm and longstanding friendship" between their two countries and stated their commitment to promote and strengthen bilateral ties, as well as deepen cooperation in areas such as education and cultural exchanges, said a joint statement issued by both countries.

They also welcomed the reopening of Argentina's embassy in Singapore and the appointment of a new honorary consul-general of Singapore in Argentina.

Dr Balakrishnan invited Argentina to participate in the Latin Asia Business Forum, which will be held in Singapore this September.

Both parties discussed cooperation between Singapore and Argentina at multilateral and regional levels, said MFA.

The ministers agreed that Argentina, as pro tempore president of the Mercosur bloc, and Singapore as Asean chair next year, should work together closely, MFA said.

Dr Balakrishnan also delivered a speech at the Argentine Council for International Relations, a leading think-tank in the country.

Yesterday, he was scheduled to meet Minister of the Treasury Nicolas Dujovne and Minister of Modernisation Andres Horacio Ibarra.

Danson Cheong