Singapore-China ties deep, broad and forward-looking, says DPM Teo Chee Hean

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean meets China's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Monday, Feb 27, 2017. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean meets China's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Monday, Feb 27, 2017. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

BEIJING - The relationship between Singapore and China is not just deep and broad-based - it is also forward-looking, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Monday (Feb 27) at the end of an annual meeting of the high-level Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).

That Singapore has sent a delegation in which there is a number of younger ministers "shows the forward-looking nature of the relationship that we are building with China", Mr Teo told Singapore reporters.

"We brought younger ministers along so that they can continue the relationship that was built by our senior leaders on both sides through the generations," said Mr Teo, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security.

"We had the opportunity also to meet some of the new Chinese ministers who have recently been appointed," he added.

On the meetings he had with the Chinese on Monday, including the 13th JCBC which is a high-level platform to find ways to deepen and broaden the Singapore-China relationship, he said they were good, with practical outcomes.

These were demonstrated by the four Memorandums of Understanding signed earlier on Monday and another 15 on Sunday. The MOUs are linked to the three government-to-government projects - the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, Tianjin Eco-city and Suzhou Industrial Park.

Mr Teo co-chaired with Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli the JCBC meeting as well as the meetings of the joint steering councils for the three flagship projects.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.