PM Lee to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, attend Belt and Road forum during Beijing visit

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong will make a five day visit to Beijing from Thursday (April 25) to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and attend a forum on the Belt and Road initiative.

This is the first time that Mr Lee will be attending China's Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Mr Xi.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong attended the inaugural forum two years ago when 29 world leaders came together to discuss China’s ambitious plans to reconstruct an ancient trade route connecting Asia and Europe — known as Silk Road — through large scale infrastructure projects.

Mr Wong’s attendance at the forum in 2017 had sparked some speculation about why Mr Lee did not attend and questions were raised about Singapore-China ties as a result.

A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Mr Lee will attend the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road forum and deliver a speech at a high level meeting on Friday.

Mr Lee and his wife, Madam Ho Ching, will also attend a welcome banquet for leaders and their spouses hosted by Mr Xi and his wife, Madam Peng Liyuan.

Mr Lee will deliver another speech at the Leaders’ Roundtable chaired by the Chinese President on Saturday.

Outside of Belt and Road-related events, Mr Lee will also meet separately with Mr Xi and Mr Li on April 29.

After a lunch hosted by the Chinese Premier, both leaders will witness the signing of several agreements on bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Other office holders who will be in Beijing include Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon and Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, will be Acting PM during Mr Lee’s absence.