Singapore's Tharman heads to Sweden for 5-day state visit
What's new: The trip marks 60 years of ties and includes meetings on trade, transport and youth programs in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will visit Sweden from Oct. 17 to 21, the first state visit to the country by a Singapore president. The trip, at the invitation of King Carl XVI Gustaf, coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Sweden. In Stockholm, Tharman is due to receive a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace, attend a state banquet with the king and Queen Silvia, and meet Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Speaker Andreas Norlén and other members of the Riksdag. He will also lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics. In Gothenburg, Tharman and the king will visit Chalmers University of Technology and the World of Volvo for talks with businesses on the future of transport.