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Singapore, China can further ties in ‘new historical period’: Xi

BEIJING — China and Singapore can seize fresh opportunities in this “new historical period” to further bilateral relations and mutual collaboration, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Sept 20).

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. PM Lee is in China for an official three-day visit. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. PM Lee is in China for an official three-day visit. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

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BEIJING — China and Singapore can seize fresh opportunities in this “new historical period” to further bilateral relations and mutual collaboration, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Sept 20).

During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, both leaders also reaffirmed the two countries’ deep friendship and efforts by successive generations of leaders in sustaining ties at a high level.

Chinese state media quoted Mr Xi as saying that Mr Lee’s three-day visit, coming just weeks before a key leadership summit for the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), showed the close relationship between the two countries and extended the tradition of high-level meetings between leaders of both countries.

“Overall, I believe there are many opportunities at this new historical period for China and Singapore to further our relations and areas of practical collaboration,” Mr Xi said.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) following the meeting said both leaders concurred on their countries’ “strategic congruence and share common interests in many areas”.

Citing the three Government-to-Government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing as examples, the PMO said the shared interests have “contributed to the close and multi-faceted cooperation over the years ... (and) are clear demonstrations of how bilateral cooperation has grown and evolved with the times”.

China’s official Xinhua news agency pointed out that Singapore and China should strengthen their “strategic connection”, given their shared views and broad common interests in areas such as economic globalisation, free trade, and investment.

The PMO said that Mr Lee and Mr Xi also discussed new areas of bilateral cooperation, including “financial, judicial and legal matters, as well as defence”. The statement gave no details about potential new projects.

During their meeting, Mr Xi thanked Singapore for its early support of the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the PMO added.

The BRI is an ambitious Chinese undertaking to expand links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond, underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Singapore is looking to collaborate with China on the mega project in areas such as infrastructure connectivity, financing, and third-party collaboration that could include training officials in countries along the “Belt and Road”.

On the investment front, Mr Lee told Mr Xi that he welcomed Chinese companies to submit “strong and competitive bids” for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail project, and that all bids would be considered “thoroughly and objectively”.

On the cross-strait issue, the PMO said: “PM Lee reaffirmed that Singapore has consistently abided by our ‘One-China’ policy and support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. President Xi expressed appreciation for the constructive role Singapore has played in the development of cross-strait relations.”

Both leaders also discussed regional and international developments, expressing “deep concern” over rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as a result of Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

With Singapore assuming the chairmanship of Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations) next year, the two leaders agreed to work closely on promoting stronger ties between China and the regional grouping.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Lee also held talks with legislative chief Zhang Dejiang, who noted the proximity of his visit to the upcoming leadership summit, officially known as the 19th Party Congress. Mr Zhang said this showed the “great importance” Beijing attached to Mr Lee’s trip and to developing friendly relations with Singapore.

Mr Lee met separately with China’s anti-corruption czar Wang Qishan, who used to play a significant role in managing Sino-Singapore ties via his co-chairmanship of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) from 2008 to 2012. The JCBC is the top body steering bilateral ties between the two countries, and is currently co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Chinese Vice-premier Zhang Gaoli.

Today, Mr Lee will meet and have lunch in Xiamen with the Fujian party secretary You Quan. When in Xiamen, Mr Lee will visit the Fujian (Xiamen)-Singapore friendship polyclinic, the first polyclinic jointly established by Singapore and China, as well as the OCBC Building and ST Aerospace Technologies (Xiamen).

Noting the significance of the timing of Mr Lee’s official visit, analysts said the high-level meetings that took place reflected the importance that China attached to it.

Dr Li Nan, senior visiting research fellow from the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute (EAI), said: “The fact that the visit took place before the party congress shows that China attaches special importance to the visit because foreign leaders usually visit after major domestic events ... China probably sees an opportunity it wants to leverage to improve relations with Asean.”

With the visit coming just before Mr Lee’s scheduled trip to the White House next month, Dr Li said Singapore “is returning to its traditional approach to balance between two major powers in a way that enhances its own national interests”.

Dr Chen Gang, a research fellow at EAI, said the visit reflected the readiness of the two countries to “push the bilateral relationship to a new height”.

Singapore University of Social Sciences senior lecturer Lim Tai Wei added: “It was a comprehensive (series of meetings) with Chinese top leadership from various important national political institutions holding important political portfolios.”

 

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