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SINGAPORE: Singapore and China are discussing how travel ties between the two countries can be resumed, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday (March 31).
Dr. Balakrishnan spoke at the end of a two-day visit to Fujian, where he met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“Now in a post-COVID recovery phase, we are seeing how, as Singapore and China reopen the economy, we can also slowly, gradually and carefully resume travel links,” said Dr. Balakrishnan.
“So some of the things that we discuss is mutual recognition of health certification, and I want to emphasize that this goes beyond vaccines, but to serology, to PCR nucleic acid testing and 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 a safe journey for everyone involved.”
READ: China launches COVID-19 passport
This comes after Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore welcomed China’s recent proposal on mutual recognition of health certificates, calling it a “timely initiative” as both countries have started vaccination programs.
“These health certificates would be an important enabler for the safe resumption of cross-border travel while protecting public health,” he told China’s Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.
“It is important that we work together from the beginning to ensure that the systems are interoperable.”
READ: Singapore and China to Launch ‘Fast Track’ Agreement with COVID-19 Measures for Essential Official and Business Travel
Singapore and China already have a “fast track” agreement to facilitate essential travel for commercial and official purposes.
The agreement applies to travel between Singapore and six Chinese provinces or municipalities directly dependent on the central government: Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Singapore has also unilaterally lifted border restrictions for travelers from China.
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to lift border restrictions for visitors from mainland China and Australia’s state of Victoria from November 6
Dr Balakrishnan said on Wednesday that Singapore had opened its borders to travelers from China as the latter’s COVID-19 case control was “very good.”
“We are sure that they can reach Singapore, we test them (and) if they are clear, they can continue with their activities,” he said.
“China obviously looks at our numbers and the fact that we are making good progress, both in terms of case control and vaccination.”
Dr Balakrishnan, however, said he was not ready to give a timeline on when more travel links between the two countries could resume, although he said the issue was “moving in the positive direction.”
“I know that there are also Singaporeans who are studying in China and who also want to return, and I can assure you that I applied to them as well,” he added.
SITUATION IN MYANMAR “DOUBLE TRAGIC”
Dr. Balakrishnan’s trip to Fujian follows his recent trips to Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Last Monday, Dr. Balakrishnan met with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Second Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof.
During the meeting with Mr. Erywan, both ministers agreed that the current situation in Myanmar was of deep concern and urged all parties in Myanmar to seek a peaceful solution.
Dr Balakrishnan said on Wednesday that he also discussed with his Chinese counterpart the “very worrying circumstances in Myanmar.”
READ: Over 100 protesters killed in Myanmar as junta demonstrates force for Armed Forces Day
On Saturday, Myanmar’s security forces shot and killed more than 100 protesters in the bloodiest day of protests since a military coup last month, press reports and witnesses said.
The Association for Assistance for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said it had confirmed a total of 521 civilian deaths by late Tuesday night, but cautioned that the actual number was likely significantly higher.
READ: Peaceful resolution in Myanmar is still possible if all parties can have genuine dialogue: Balakrishnan
“First, I will speak from Singapore’s perspective: we are alarmed (and) dismayed by the escalation of violence, particularly over the weekend on what was supposed to be Armed Forces Day,” said Dr. Balakrishnan, referring to to events in Myanmar on Saturday. .
“In fact (it turned out) to be a day with perhaps the highest level of fatalities. This is tragic, this is doubly tragic. Again, we express our voice to the military authorities to act with restraint, reduce violence, initiate dialogue, honest and constructive dialogue between two parties “.
READ: Singaporean Foreign Minister calls on Myanmar military to stop using lethal force against civilians
From his talks with Wang, Dr. Balakrishnan said he believes China also shares Singapore’s hope that tension will be eased, violence stopped and political dialogue started.
“We both agree that we must still respect the principle of non-interference in internal affairs,” he added.
“Ultimately, the fate and future of Myanmar is in the hands of its own people. We can try to help, ASEAN, the UN will certainly try to help in a constructive way, without interference, but in a way that allows dialogue to occur. .
“So we will have to do it carefully, patiently, and in a way that encourages engagement and conversation, rather than confrontation.”
