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SINGAPORE: Singaporean leaders on Saturday (October 3) exchanged congratulatory messages with their Chinese counterparts to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In her letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Halimah Yacob said that she is “encouraged that even amid the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Singapore and China have maintained close and frequent exchanges across the levels and have provided assistance to each other in times of need ”.
Writing to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that bilateral cooperation between Singapore and China has grown in depth and scope since the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in 1990.
“China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner and Singapore has been China’s largest foreign investor since 2013,” he said.
He added: “We have continued to support each other during the COVID-19 outbreak and identified new areas of cooperation to further our relationship. This is a testament to the strong and mutually beneficial partnership we have forged over the years.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the multilateral infrastructure that unites our world today and to take our bilateral partnership to greater heights.”
Vice Premier Heng Swee Keat also expressed his best wishes in a message to Vice Premier of the Chinese State Council, Han Zheng, in which he said that China and Singapore enjoy a “multifaceted and mutually beneficial relationship, backed by close cooperation. in many areas “. .
“Beyond our three government-to-government projects, we have institutionalized our bilateral exchanges, with the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as the main platform,” Heng said, adding that the JCBC “remains an important platform to review. our existing areas of cooperation, and develop new areas to keep up ”.
Singapore and China have continued to work closely together despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, he said.
“We have agreed to include public health collaboration as a new item on the JCBC agenda this year, which will include the development of diagnoses, vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Both countries are also expanding the scope of our collaboration in areas such as trade in services, food safety, and legal and judicial services.
“Amid the challenges we face, it is even more important for our leaders in both countries to provide strategic direction and guide our bilateral relationship forward.”
With the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations next year, Mr. Heng added that Singapore looks forward to working together with both sides to strengthen cooperation.
He also said that he looks forward to welcoming Mr. Han and his delegation to this year’s JCBC.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in his message to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Singapore and China have been “equally committed to facilitating our economic recovery by advocating for cooperation on cross-border connectivity and supply chain.”
“In addition to cooperating bilaterally, Singapore and China have also worked closely regionally and internationally on issues of common concern,” he said.
“Through the ASEAN-China platform, we were able to cooperate in the regional fight against COVID-19. We also share a joint commitment to promote free and open trade in the region through the Regional Integral Economic Association.
“As we look back on the accomplishments in our relationships over the short span of 30 years, I am confident that our ties will become even stronger as we embark on the next phase of our partnership. I look forward to continuing to work with you to take our relationships to an even higher level. “
The letters from Mdm Halimah and Mr Lee are reproduced in their entirety below:
Congratulatory Message from President Halimah Yacob to President Xi Jinping
Oct 3, 2020
His Excellency Xi Jinping
President
People’s Republic of China
Your excellence,
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Singapore and the People’s Republic of China. The foundations of this relationship were laid decades ago, beginning with Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping’s respective visits to China and Singapore in the 1970s.
Over the past 30 years, Singapore-China relations have flourished, marked by close people-to-people ties and substantial cooperation. Our government-to-government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing, as well as the state-level bilateral cooperation project in Guangzhou, continue to make good progress. Bilateral cooperation has also expanded into new areas including smart cities, finance, legal and judicial affairs, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative.
I am encouraged that even amid the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Singapore and China have maintained close and frequent exchanges at all levels, providing mutual assistance in times of need. Our two countries have also opened up new areas of cooperation, as we grapple with similar challenges of economic recovery and strengthening trade and connectivity. As we begin the next 30 years of friendship, I am fully confident that we will take the bilateral relations between our two countries to even greater levels.
Please accept my best wishes and I hope to see you again soon.
Yours sincerely,
HALIMAH YACOB
Congratulatory Message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Prime Minister Li Keqiang
Oct 3, 2020
His Excellency Li Keqiang
Prime Minister of the Council of State
People’s Republic of China
Dear Prime Minister Li,
On this happy occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Singapore and the People’s Republic of China, I extend my best wishes to you, your Government and the people of China.
The long-standing relationship between Singapore and China predates the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990. Since then, our bilateral cooperation has grown in depth and scope. China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner and Singapore has been China’s largest foreign investor since 2013. We have established three government-to-government projects in China in each of the last three decades, in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing, that continue to function. good today.
Our person-to-person exchanges have also grown, with more than four million people traveling between our countries in 2018, a 40-fold increase from 100,000 travelers in 1990. We continue to support each other during the COVID-19 outbreak, and we identify new areas of cooperation to boost our relationship. This is a testament to the strong and mutually beneficial partnership we have forged over the years.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, Singapore and China also cooperate well in regional and international forums. We share a strong interest in improving ASEAN-China relations and upholding free and open trade through agreements such as the enhanced China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. I look forward to working with you to strengthen the multilateral infrastructure that unites our world today and to take our bilateral partnership to greater heights.
Yours sincerely,
READ HSIEN LONG
