17/05/2023 (China/ Singapore) - On Tuesday, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had a productive meeting with Lawrence Wong, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, in Beijing. Ding emphasized the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Singapore, indicating that both nations were ready to initiate a new chapter of high-quality cooperation aimed at benefiting both countries and their people.
Ding proposed the continuous use of the China-Singapore bilateral cooperation mechanism to strengthen policy communication, coordinate resources, and deepen practical cooperation across various sectors. He highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and key projects such as the Tianjin Eco-City, Suzhou Industrial Park, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, and the Guangzhou Knowledge City.
Ding emphasized the shared aim of maintaining regional prosperity and stability. He expressed China's willingness to collaborate with Singapore in preventing the politicization of economic issues, maintaining the stability of global supply chains, and promoting the advanced implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area version 3.0.
Lawrence Wong responded positively, acknowledging the robust bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. He reiterated Singapore's commitment to the One-China policy and the Belt and Road Initiative, expressing readiness to enhance practical cooperation with China in various fields and elevate bilateral relations to new heights. The discussion took place in Beijing, China's capital, on May 16, 2023.