FRIENDSMakingMr S Rajaratnam was Singapore’s first Minister for Foreign Affairs. His approach to foreign relations was pragmatic, cautious yet decisive, firm but adaptable. He saw that Singapore, like other smaller nations, was in danger of being assimilated by the powerful Capitalist and Communist factions during the Cold War and it was necessary to strike a balance.

On 21 September 1965, Singapore was officially admitted into the United Nations (UN) as its 117th member when it was merely six weeks old. DPM Dr Toh Chin Chye and Foreign Minister S Rajaratnam were part of the delegation that represented Singapore at the UN General Assembly.

Source: UIP

Immediately after Singapore became part of the UN, Mr Rajaratnam, together with Dr Toh and Minister of State for Education, Rahim Ishak, led the Singapore delegation on a non-stop Goodwill Mission to 16 Afro-Asian countries between September and November 1965.

to Afro-Asian CountriesMISSION

Goodwill

Photographs from Dr Toh Chin Chye’s Personal Albums

Source: UIP

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