Beijing and Singapore have agreed to upgrade their ties and extend cooperation to science and technology
as well as supply chains, capping Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s week-long trip to China.
In a joint statement on Saturday, both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to an all-round, high-quality, future-oriented partnership, a move which they said reflected their “desire to set the strategic direction and chart the development of bilateral relations going forward”.
The decision means China and Singapore can strengthen cooperation in areas including trade, investment, the digital economy, food security, finance and aviation, according to the joint statement.
The two nations said they would uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, and work to ensure the stable and smooth operation of global supply chains.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Friday. Photo: Xinhua
Beijing and Singapore have agreed to upgrade their ties and extend cooperation to science and technology as well as supply chains, capping Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s week-long trip to China. In a joint statement on Saturday, both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to an all-round, high-quality, future-oriented partnership, a move which they said reflected their “desire to set the strategic direction and chart the development of bilateral relations going forward". The decision means China and Singapore can strengthen cooperation in areas including trade, investment, the digital economy, food security, finance and aviation, according to the joint statement. The two nations said they would uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, and work to ensure the stable and smooth operation of global supply chains. Both also reaffirmed the need to further improve relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and enhance the Asian-China Free Trade Area.
The joint statement marked the end of Lee’s six-day trip in China, his first visit to the country since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lee visited the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan before arriving in Beijing on Friday, when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In his meeting with Lee, Xi said ties with the city state were a priority for China’s regional diplomacy and the prime minister’s visit would further elevate the relationship. “China is ready to strengthen strategic communication with Singapore and deepen strategic dovetailing.