Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore met with Wu Yi, the visiting Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China at the Presidential Palace on July 10, 2007. Both sides exchanged opinions on the China-Singapore Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) mechanism and other issues. Wu Yi pointed out that the JCBC mechanism is the highest level of cooperation mechanism between the governments of China and Singapore. Since its establishment, salient achievements have been made by both sides in the 4 major areas of cooperation including high science and technology, Singapore's participation in China's regional development, Chinese enterprises' "go global" and human resource development. Besides, cooperation in intellectual property, culture, education, tourism, environmental protection, hygiene, quality inspection and other areas is also in sustained advance.

 

Lee Hsien Loong said that the relationship between Singapore and China has developed very rapidly in recent years. The important reason for the rapid development of the bilateral relations is that both sides are devoted to the development of substantial cooperation and seek for realizing win-win in the mutually beneficial cooperation. The Singaporean side is willing to further expand the areas of bilateral cooperation, exploit the cooperation potentials and actively take part in the economic development of China's northeastern and western regions. Lee positively evaluated the JCBC mechanism and thought JCBC has played a very important role in guiding and promoting the cooperation between Singapore and China in various areas.  He also stated that China sticks to the road of peaceful development and that the Singaporean government firmly believes this is of important significance to peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific Region.

 

Wu Yi said that the momentum for the development of the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Singapore is very good. Both sides are very close in high-level contacts and their mutually beneficial cooperation being constantly deepened. Singapore is China's 7th trade partner while China is Singapore's 3rd trade partner. Both sides have developed very fruitful interflow and cooperation in broad areas and carried out close collaboration in international and regional affairs. The Chinese side attaches high importance to the development of the friendly relations with Singapore and is willing to exert our joint efforts, on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, in constantly deepen the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various areas with an eye to the future and taking the mutual concerns into consideration, so as to enable the bilateral relations to constantly reach a new level.

 

Wu Yi also stated that this year is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Singapore is the chairman member state of ASEAN this year. The Chinese side attaches high importance to the development of the relations with ASEAN and is willing to exert joint efforts in pushing forward the sustained and deepened strategic partnership between China and ASEAN.

2007-07-16

2007-07-16