Meanwhile, 2016 marked another leadership milestone: Mr Lee Hsien Loong became the first Singapore Prime Minister to make an official visit to the United States of America since 1985.

It marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and Mr Lee Hsien Loong was honoured with a state dinner - an honour accorded by President Barack Obama’s administration on only 12 other occasions across his two terms.

He also strove to foster warm ties with the other superpower in China during his tenure.

On his latest visit to China in March 2023, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to elevate bilateral ties and pursue new areas of collaboration such as digital and green economies.

Lee Hsien Loong

20 years as Prime Minister and almost a lifetime in the public eye