Singapore’s ‘minister mentor’ feted; EU Commission’s ambassador departs for ‘greener’ pastures.
By Gail Scott
Statesman Lee Kuan Yew greets Esther Coopersmith as Ambassador of Singapore Chan Heng-Chee and Sen. Jim Webb look on. (Photo courtesy US-ASEAN Business Council)
VISIONARY LEADER
The US-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Business Council presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Singapore’s legendary first prime minister and now its “minister mentor,” Lee Kuan Yew, at a high- powered black-tie celebration of its 25th anniversary at the Mandarin Oriental on Oct. 25. Luminaries gathered from the foreign policy, government, academic, and business establishments included ASEAN ambassadors, former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George P. Shultz; United Technologies Chairman George David; Sen. Jim Webb (chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs), and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush added their congratulations via video.
