Singaporean PM meets senior Chinese official

Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, also secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), on Thursday met Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Yin, also secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, noted that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Singapore.

China is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Singapore, deepen the synergy of development strategies, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance institutionalized inter-party exchanges as well as mutual learning on governance, he said.

Beijing will actively implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continuously foster new areas of cooperation with Singapore, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, he added. 　　 Wong said that Singapore highly values its friendly relations with China and is willing to take the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with China across various fields, strengthen dialog and exchanges between the ruling parties of the two countries, and expand cooperation with Beijing in such fields as culture, education, healthcare and innovation to jointly push Singapore-China relations to a new level.

At the invitation of the Singaporean government, Yin led a CPC delegation to visit Singapore from Wednesday to Saturday. During the visit, he also met Deputy Prime Minister and PAP Chairman Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung.

Yin had in-depth exchanges with people from various sectors in Singapore, and studied the country's practices in such fields as urban renewal, the ecological environment, healthcare, technological innovation, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism and airport economy. Additionally, he attended the "Hello, Beijing" cultural exchange event and, together with the Singaporean side, attended the ceremony of witnessing the exchange of cooperation documents.

Singaporean PM meets senior Chinese official

Fuzhou, the capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, launched a cross-strait cultural carnival during the May Day holiday, attracting visitors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to revel in the festivities.

The carnival unfolded at a historical and cultural block in Lianjiang County, Fuzhou, where an array of performances highlighted local culture and the deep ties across the Strait, serving as a rich cultural feast for holidaymakers.

"Strolling through the ancient streets, with the old buildings on both sides and intangible heritage performances all around, it feels like traveling back in time. It also reminds you that people on both sides of the Strait share the same roots and the same cultural lineage," said Zhang Chuanzhen, a Taiwan compatriot.

In addition to stage performances, the block also featured intangible cultural heritage displays, cultural and creative markets, and hands-on craft experience activities. The immersive and interactive setting invited visitors to explore the history, take in the scenery, and savor the culture.

"We are dedicated to allowing everyone to experience the breadth and depth of Chinese culture, and to strengthen the sense of shared cultural identity across the Strait. Going forward, Lianjiang County will continue to innovate forms of cultural exchanges and build a bridge for heart-to-heart communication between compatriots on both sides of the Strait, especially among the younger generations," said Ren Yong, director of the Lianjiang County Cultural Center.

Fujian holds May Day holiday cultural carnival to entertain visitors across Taiwan Strait