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Top Singapore-China forum to take place next month as senior diplomats meet


SINGAPORE — The top bilateral forum between Singapore and China will be held next month, the Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday (Jan 17) after senior diplomats from both countries held a meeting here.

Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) Mr Chee Wee Kiong and Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Mr Liu Zhenmin toss a prosperity salad (yusheng) during lunch. Vice Foreign Minister Liu is in Singapore for the 10th Bilateral Consultations between the Singapore and Chinese Foreign Ministries. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) Mr Chee Wee Kiong and Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Mr Liu Zhenmin toss a prosperity salad (yusheng) during lunch. Vice Foreign Minister Liu is in Singapore for the 10th Bilateral Consultations between the Singapore and Chinese Foreign Ministries. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SINGAPORE — The top bilateral forum between Singapore and China will be held next month, the Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday (Jan 17) after senior diplomats from both countries held a meeting here.


The Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) is the top bilateral body overseeing cooperation between Singapore and China. It is co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

The Singapore MFA gave no further details about the upcoming meeting.


The ministry said on its website that Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin co-chaired Tuesday’s meeting where they “reviewed the good progress of the three Government-to-Government projects between the two sides ... (and) discussed upcoming bilateral exchanges, including the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation to be held next month, and the China-Singapore Forum on Leadership this year.”


Mr Chee and Mr Liu also reviewed the “long-standing and multi-faceted cooperation between Singapore and China”, according to the ministry.

The two senior diplomats noted that “high-level exchanges were maintained between the two sides” last year, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s meetings with President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou.
 They further discussed ways to improve Asean-China relations, and how the tourism authorities of both countries can better work together to promote regional travel.

Singapore is the current country coordinator for Asean-China relations.


Photos posted by Singapore’s MFA showed diplomats from both sides tossing a prosperity salad at lunch, a tradition for many during the Chinese New Year.

The meeting between the two foreign ministries, first held in 1996, serves as a platform for diplomats from both countries to discuss ways to improve cooperation at the bilateral and regional level.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry posted two photos from the meeting and a short statement on its website on Tuesday. It said both sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern, but did not elaborate.
 The two foreign ministries made no mention of the Terrex issue, which has put bilateral relations under strain of late.

Hong Kong customs seized nine of the Singapore Armed Forces’ Terrex armoured vehicles, bound for the Republic from Taiwan, on Nov 23. 


The Hong Kong government said it was investigating the matter and would deal with the issue according to its laws.

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