Singapore and South Korea are working closely to restore air connectivity disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Thursday, June 24.

However, resumption of air travel between the two countries has to be done in "a gradual and safe way", Vivian said, according to a press release issued by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on the same day.

Vivian made these comments after he met with his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong, during the latter's first visit to Singapore in his capacity as foreign minister.

Both of them had "good discussions" on regional issues, including the situation on the Korean peninsula, he added.

During his working visit to Singapore, Chung also met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Both ministers reaffirmed "the warm and close friendship" between the two countries, and welcomed further bilateral exchanges to strengthen cooperation in confronting the challenges of the pandemic, MFA said.

PM Lee welcomed South Korea's interest in strengthening its engagement with Asean as well.

Separately, both PM Lee and Vivian met UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on June 24 too.

Saying that both Singapore and the UK are "old friends", Vivian and Raab took stock of the "excellent bilateral ties" between the two countries.

Both ministers agreed to "strengthen cooperation on health and the safe resumption of international travel", MFA said.

Vivian also reiterated Singapore's strong support for the UK's continued engagement with Asean.

PM Lee reaffirmed Singapore's "deep and longstanding ties" as well, saying on his Facebook post that both countries have "a shared interest in upholding free trade, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order".

Singapore and the UK are expanding their cooperation on the digital economy and climate change too, he added.

Top image via Ministry of Communications and Information