BEIJING - Singapore and China will broaden cooperation and pursue new areas of collaboration, as they agreed on Friday to upgrade their bilateral relationship. This followed a meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People again after four years.
Mr Xi called the relationship “forward-looking, strategic and exemplary”, and said it sets the benchmark and is a model for other countries in the region.
Beijing’s invitation to PM Lee for a visit so soon after installing a new government earlier in March is a clear indication that China has always prioritised Singapore in its regional diplomacy, reflecting the special and close friendship between both countries, Mr Xi added.
In turn, PM Lee said it is timely for Singapore and China to further take forward what he described as “a strong friendship and deep understanding which we have built up over the years”.
“Many countries, including Singapore, are very keen to enhance economic ties with China,” PM Lee said.
“And I hope that my visit will inject fresh momentum for bilateral cooperation and high-level exchanges between us,” he added.
A statement issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the meeting said PM Lee and President Xi agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to an “all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership”.
This reflects commitment by both sides to keep broadening bilateral cooperation, and work together on new areas such as the digital and green economies, said the statement.
PM Lee and Mr Xi met during the third and final leg of the Singapore leader’s official visit to China. The last time he was here was in 2019 for the Belt and Road Forum. Then, he also met Mr Xi at the Great Hall. The two met again last November in Bangkok.
PM Lee said he was glad to be able to again visit China, which he tries to visit every year.
Since he was last here in 2019, there have been many developments, he added.
“I am glad to have the chance to come and meet old friends and make new ones, and to catch up with the latest developments,” PM Lee said.
“I am particularly glad to see that life is returning to normal everywhere in China. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a very difficult period for all of us.
“Singapore and China have continued to work with each other and to support one another. And our relationship has only grown stronger.”
Highlighting how PM Lee is one of China’s most frequent visitors among foreign leaders, Mr Xi was warm in his remarks about Singapore.
The Chinese leader said that China’s economy will continue to prosper, act as a stabilising force in current global conditions and be an engine of growth for the world’s economic recovery.
He pledged to share this “strategic opportunity” with countries that are its partners.
“Singapore is an important partner of China, and our cooperation is forward-looking, strategic and exemplary,” Mr Xi said.
“Our ties have strongly improved the development of our two countries and set a benchmark for others in the region.”
The Chinese leader said he was willing to deepen communication with PM Lee, work with him to draft a blueprint for developing relations of the two countries and continue promoting collaboration in various domains.
“This will bring more benefits to the people of our two countries and make greater contributions to the peace, stability and development of the region and the world,” he added.
Singapore-China relations were last upgraded in 2015, with the two countries establishing an “all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times”.
China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner since 2013, while Singapore has been China’s biggest foreign investor, according to Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.
Its statement also said PM Lee and Mr Xi discussed regional and international developments, and reaffirmed the importance of building an open, peaceful and inclusive region.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Mr Xi as also saying in the meeting that Asia has maintained overall peace and stability and rapid development, and it should “resolutely oppose hegemonic bullying, clearly resist decoupling and not allow any country to deprive the Asian people of the right to pursue a better and happier life”.
PM Lee will meet newly minted Premier Li Qiang, who will host a lunch banquet for the Singapore delegation on Saturday, the final day of his official visit.
