This is my first visit to Kazan, but the links between Singapore and Tatarstan go back many years. I met the Rais of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, who spoke warmly about his meetings with Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the friendships he has forged with many Singaporeans over the years. Today, these people-to-people exchanges continue to thrive. I look forward to building on them, and exploring new areas of cooperation for our mutual benefit.