Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang paid a visit to Singapore and co-chaired meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms from Sunday to Monday.
During his two-day visit, Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yon and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.
In the meetings, Ding noted that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important partners, with bilateral ties maintaining a sound momentum of growth.
He said that leaders of the two countries jointly announced the new positioning of China-Singapore all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership last year, which has drawn up the blueprint for the development of the two countries' relations in the new era.
Ding said that China is ready to work with Singapore to further implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.
He called on the two sides to synergize their development strategies more closely, set a new benchmark for high-quality cooperation, and improve and upgrade cooperation.
China is willing to join hands with Singapore to strengthen communication and coordination in major international and regional strategic issues, and advance universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, so as to safeguard stability and prosperity in the region, Ding said.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Wong and other Singaporean leaders said that Singapore adheres to the one-China principle, and views China's development from a long-term perspective.
They expressed appreciation for China's increasingly significant role in the global economy, the willingness to deepen cooperation with China in various aspects, and the commitment to build an open world economy and to create a better future for the people of the two countries and the region.
Ding and Gan on Monday co-chaired four meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, namely, the 20th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), the 25th meeting of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council (JSC), the 16th meeting of the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City JSC, and the eighth meeting of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity JSC. The two sides comprehensively reviewed the progress of China-Singapore practical cooperation and had in-depth exchanges on the cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), economy and trade, sustainable development, innovation, finance, public health, people-to-people exchanges, and bilateral national-level projects, and jointly explored new ideas and measures for cooperation.
Ding and Gan later witnessed the presentation of 25 achievements of China-Singapore cooperation, including the signing of a Belt and Road cooperation plan, agreeing on the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) Further Upgrade Protocol (FUP) to enter into force on Dec 31 this year, and the renewal of the framework agreement on the exchange and training program for middle and high-ranking officials.
The two officials also attended the unveiling ceremony of the commemorative sculpture for the 20th JCBC meeting, and a tree-planting ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park.
Chinese vice premier visits Singapore, co-chairs meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms
