Exchange of officials on study visits will also be stepped up
By
Clarissa Oon & Lee Siew Hua
China's Vice Minister for Science and Technology, Tao Jian Lin (seated, left) and Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shan (seated right), put their signatures on the MOU on Guiding Principles for Intellectual Property Arising from Co-operation in Science and Technology. Watching on are China's vice premier, Wang Qishan (left, standing) and S'pore's deputy prime minister, Wong Kan Seng (right, standing). -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
SINGAPORE and China ties are headed for a higher plane, with cooperation deepening in such areas as education as well as science and technology.
China's Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said on Monday the all-round bilateral cooperation across fields beyond the economy and trade had achieved 'good results'.
Speaking to reporters after a series of high-level talks here, he said: 'We believe the just-concluded meetings will definitely give a strong boost to the friendly cooperation between our two countries.'
He said China and Singapore are 'closely related in terms of geographical location, cultural heritage and language'. 'These are favourable conditions in growing our friendly cooperation,' he added.
Mr Wu is part of a delegation of more than 21 minister-level officials, led by Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. They are here at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.
On Monday, both sides inked two memoranda of understanding. One is to forge closer cooperation in science and technology and the other, to step up the exchange of officials on study visits between them. The Chinese delegation winds up its four-day official visit on Wednesday.
In separate remarks to the media, DPM Wong said that while the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City are two 'demonstrative' flagship projects that enjoy government-to-government attention, the big picture is that the relationship with China goes way back and is very broad-based.
'It is not just economy. It is also about culture, about education, about planning. It is not just about leaders and leaders, it is also about people and people. It is about businesses and businesses.'
Singapore and China established diplomatic ties in 1990. But it was with the setting up of the Suzhou Industrial Park in 1994 that cooperation deepened decisively.
As the two countries head towards the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, science and technology has been flagged as one priority for cooperation.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
