Modi visits Institute of Technical Education in Singapore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the second day of his bilateral visit to Singapore, visited the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), a skills development training centre, here.

"Focus on technical education...PM at ITE which lies in the parliamentary constituency of (Singapore's) PM @leehsienloong," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) India tweeted.

Established in 1992, ITE is a post-secondary education institution under Singapore's education ministry.

"As a principal provider of career and technical education, and a key developer of national occupational skills certification and standards, ITE's mission is to create opportunities for students and adult learners to acquire skills, knowledge and values for employability and lifelong learning," the institute's website states.

Modi was accompanied on his visit to ITE by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Before the visit, Lee hosted a lunch banquet for Modi.

In his banquet speech, Modi described Singapore as Asia's economic lion which has been a major partner in India's transformation.

India and Singapore on Tuesday signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership and nine accords cutting across various sectors following talks between Modi and Lee.

After the signing of the documents, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted that the two prime ministers noted the importance of culture between the two countries and encouraged more exhibitions, exchanges and interactions.

Modi and Lee noted their shared interest in furthering cooperation in the areas of science and technology, particularly in space, biomedicine and ayurveda, the spokesperson added.

The two prime ministers also released two postal stamps showing Rashtrapati Bhavan and Istana, the Singaporean presidential palace, to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Istana following which he met Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Modi arrived in Singapore from Malaysia on Monday in the second and last leg of his four-day visit to southeast Asia.