Singaporean PM Lee arrives in PH for Apec

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong arrives in the country on Wednesday to participate in the high-level Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ meeting which will commence on the same day.

Lee arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal at 10:15 a.m.

Lee is the third prime minister of Singapore and the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, first prime minister of the city-state.

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Lee has been in office since 2004, with his political party, the People’s Action Party, extending their hold in Singapore for the next five years following their victory in the 2015 general elections.

Before sitting as the prime minister, Lee served as Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister.

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During his term, Singapore celebrated its 50th year of independence.

The prime minister graduated with a first honors degree in Mathematics from Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He also completed a Master of Public Administration from the John Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Some of the controversies he faced as prime minister of the wealthy city-state include allegations of nepotism and receiving an excessive salary. With an annual salary of $1.7 million, Lee is the highest paid prime minister in the world.

US President Barack Obama, the most powerful president in the world, only receives $400,000 per year. RAM