Singapore is an important cooperative partner of China in Southeast Asia, and the two countries have extensive exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, finance, science and technology, education and culture. Recently, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, visited China and held a number of bilateral cooperation mechanism meetings with the Chinese side, reaching 24 important outcomes.
The visit is significant as Lawrence Wong has been elected as the leader of Singapore's leadership team and is expected to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore's next Prime Minister. So, why did Lawrence Wong stay in China for 4 days? What did he achieve with the Chinese side? What implications does this have for China-Singapore relations and Singapore's future development?
Huang Xuncai visited China from November 1 to 4, during which he met and inspected the Chinese side in four cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
He co-chaired four meetings of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the China-Singapore Joint Council, the China-Singapore Social and Cultural Cooperation Council, the China-Singapore Financial Dialogue, and the China-Singapore Talent Development Council, and signed 19 agreements on green development, digital economy, financial cooperation, and talent development.
He also had in-depth exchanges with the Chinese side on key cooperation projects such as the upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the China-Singapore Connectivity Project, and the China-Singapore International Commercial Arbitration Centre, and reached five consensus on coordination and cooperation between the two sides in regional and international affairs. Lawrence Wong's four-day stay in China is to deepen the all-round cooperation between China and New Zealand, push bilateral relations to a new level, and bring more benefits and opportunities to the two peoples.
The pandemic has had a serious impact on the global economy and society, and has also brought new opportunities and challenges to the cooperation between China and Singapore.
The 24 outcomes agreed between Lawrence Wong and China are aimed at addressing the challenges of the pandemic and the post-pandemic era, and strengthening the resilience of the two countries in their fight against the pandemic and economic recovery. Among them, the two sides reached a series of agreements and consensus on strengthening vaccine cooperation, promoting people-to-people exchanges, promoting green development, accelerating digital transformation, deepening financial cooperation, and cultivating talents.
For example, the two sides agreed to strengthen the research and development, production and distribution of vaccines, promote the establishment of mutually recognized health codes and vaccination certificates, and create conditions for the resumption of people-to-people and economic and trade exchanges between the two countries and regions.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change, carbon neutrality and renewable energy, and promote green, low-carbon and sustainable development. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and cybersecurity, and promote digital innovation and digital governance.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in financial services, fintech and financial regulation, and support financial stability and financial openness in the two countries and regions. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, tourism, and sports, and to cultivate talent and friendship between the two countries.
As the leader of Singapore's new leadership team, Lawrence Wong aims to inherit and develop the friendly relations between China and New Zealand and lay a solid foundation for long-term cooperation and common development between the two countries. Lawrence Wong is a core member of Singapore's leadership team, having been elected as the team's leader in April this year and is expected to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore's next prime minister.
Born in 1972 in Hainan, China, Lawrence Wong graduated from Cambridge University and served as Singapore's Minister of Defence and Minister of Education. Lawrence Wong has a deep affection and understanding of China, and has visited China many times and maintained good communication and cooperation with the Chinese side.
During his visit to China, he said that China-Singapore relations are an important pillar of Singapore's diplomacy, and Singapore's leadership team will continue to uphold the concept of openness and inclusiveness, strengthen mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, and contribute to the peace and prosperity of the two countries and the region. He also said that he will carry on the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong, maintain close exchanges with Chinese leaders, and promote the continuous development of China-New Zealand relations.
Lawrence Wong spent four days in China and reached 24 outcomes with the Chinese side, with the aim of deepening China-New Zealand all-round cooperation, addressing the challenges of the pandemic and the post-pandemic era, and inheriting and developing China-New Zealand friendly relations.
The visit demonstrated the high level of mutual trust and mutual benefit between China and Singapore, as well as the strategic vision and foresight of the two countries. This visit has not only injected new vitality and impetus into the bilateral relations between the two countries, but also opened up new space and prospects for cooperation and cooperation between the two countries at the regional and international levels.
The visit also provided strong support and guarantee for the smooth succession and smooth transition of Singapore's new leadership team and new prime minister. We believe that under the leadership of Lawrence Wong, Singapore will continue to maintain friendly and cooperative relations with China and make greater contributions to the peace and prosperity of the two countries and the region.