Persimmon tree planted in Singapore to mark Suzhou Industrial Park’s 30th anniversary

SINGAPORE – A persimmon tree was planted by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Nov 10.

The tree-planting was part of a series of events in Singapore to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), the first government-to-government project between Singapore and China.

Another persimmon tree will be planted in the SIP when Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong visits Suzhou, in southern Jiangsu province, at the end of November to celebrate the anniversary.

Singapore chose the persimmon tree because it can be found in Singapore and Suzhou, even though the exact species native to both places differ, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

“The planting of different species of persimmon (pronounced shi in Chinese) trees native to each city (also pronounced shi) signifies how the SIP and Singapore have both embarked on their own developmental journey according to each city’s local context,” said MTI.

Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of SIP Chan Chun Sing and Jiangsu Governor Xu Kunlin, two key drivers behind the Suzhou project, were also present at the tree-planting ceremony.

The planting of a tree also signifies “the forefathers planting the trees for the future generations to enjoy the coolness of the shade”, as embodied in the Chinese proverb “qian ren zhong shu, hou ren cheng liang”.

In a LinkedIn post on the night of Nov 10, Mr Gan said: “The planting of trees represents our hope that our forward-looking collaboration under the SIP will continue to benefit future generations on both sides for decades to come.”

Mr Gan also hosted Mr Ding and a few of his delegation members to dinner, where they discussed a range of issues, including global and regional developments.

“The deep economic ties between our countries have facilitated trade, investments, and market access for our businesses, and we are committed to exploring new avenues for high-quality growth, so that our economies remain resilient and competitive.”

Mr Ding, who is on a two-day visit to Singapore, will co-chair the 20th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and related meetings with Mr Gan on Nov 11 to review past progress and map out future development in bilateral cooperation.

Established in 1994, SIP is a symbol of Singapore’s commitment to and confidence in China’s development.

It also serves as a platform for China to improve its connection with the rest of the world.

According to MTI, SIP has been ranked first among China’s Economic and Technological Development Zones for eight consecutive years since the ranking started in 2016. 

In 2023, SIP recorded 5.9 per cent growth year on year, outperforming the national average.