Deng Xiaoping visited Singapore twice in his lifetime. In 1920, Deng was 16 years old. He was one of the 84 students from Sichuan province going to France to participate in a work-cum-study programme. His ship, Lebon, stopped over in Singapore for two days. Deng was shocked by the way the British rulers had treated the local people.

The second time he visited Singapore was 58 years later. He was the paramount leader of China but wore the modest titles of vice-chairman of the Communist Party, vice-premier and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.