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BEIJING – Travel between Singapore and China may resume soon if the two sides can work out a system to mutually recognize each other’s health certification and exchange personal information.
Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said he had spent a considerable amount of time discussing this with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi when the two met on Wednesday (March 31) in southern Fujian province. China, at the invitation of Beijing.
“I want to emphasize that this goes beyond vaccines, but from serology to PCR (polymerase chain reaction), nucleic acid testing and then the rest. There will need to be verifiable and authoritative sources of this information. And again, we need to be able to exchange relevant subsets of this information in a way that facilitates safe travel, “he told Singaporean media at the end of the meeting.
While Dr. Balakrishnan said he was not ready to give a timeline on such an implementation, he added that he was “moving in a positive direction”, and that he had also submitted a request to Mr. Wang on behalf of Singaporean students that he wants go back to China.
Singapore and China have since June created a fast track for essential commercial and official travel between the two countries.
Since last November, Singapore has also lifted border restrictions for visitors from mainland China.
In March of last year, China closed its borders to foreigners as the pandemic began to spread around the world. It relaxed the rules late last year by allowing certain categories of foreign nationals living and working in China to re-enter the country.
As the pandemic raged last year, the two countries were able to support each other, “and not all of this was publicized,” he said.
The two nations, among other things, have worked together in the provision of medical supplies and the repatriation of citizens.
“But the fact that we could step up and help each other illustrates this point about a friend in need is a true friend,” which, Dr. Balakrishnan says, “reflects the already strong relationship built on trust, good will and a long history over the years “.
As both parties move into a post-Covid-19 recovery phase, they will seek to reopen their economy and seize new opportunities.
For example, Singaporean companies can serve China’s domestic market through its new “dual circulation” economic strategy, which focuses more on the domestic economy. Outside of China, Singapore can also be a good portal for Chinese companies wanting to access Southeast Asia and other markets, he said.
Singapore has been China’s largest investor since 2013, a ranking Dr. Balakrishnan says he expects Singapore to maintain “for some time.”
The two diplomats also took stock of their bilateral relations, which will likely culminate in a state visit by President Halimah Yacob later this year. The visit, originally planned last year as the two countries marked 30 years of formal diplomatic relations, was postponed due to the pandemic.
Regional issues were also discussed at the meeting, including events in Myanmar, which Dr. Balakrishnan described as “very worrying”.
He said Singapore was “alarmed and dismayed” by the escalation of violence, especially on Saturday when the army killed more than 100 people on the deadliest day since the junta seized power in a February 1 coup.
The minister called for restraint and to begin an “honest and constructive dialogue between the two sides,” and that China also shares Singapore’s hope that tensions and violence can end and talks can begin.
“We both agree that we must still respect the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. Ultimately, the fate and future of Myanmar is in the hands of its own people,” he said.
“ASEAN and the UN will certainly try to help in a constructive and non-interference way, but in a way that allows for dialogue. Therefore, we will have to do it carefully, patiently, and in a way that encourages engagement and conversation instead. of confrontation. “
As for the region, Beijing has launched a charming offensive in Southeast Asia, prioritizing it in recent years in its foreign policy as the United States and China vie for influence.
Last year, Chinese leaders made a series of visits, but while Dr. Balakrishnan acknowledged the growing rivalry between the great powers, “the fact that China has been willing to participate and participate widely” is a positive step.
“And I’m sure the United States or the new administration will do the same as well.”
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