BEIJING: The ongoing leadership transition in Singapore will not affect its relationship with China as ties between both countries are “not personal to a few or to particular leaders”, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Apr 29).
Having a continued friendship is in the interest of both countries, he told reporters at the end of his five-day visit to Beijing.
AdvertisementOn Singapore’s part, preparations have been underway with the fourth-generation ministers, such as Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, being actively involved in various roles across provincial to national-level bilateral projects.
One example is the annual Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) – the highest-level platform to discuss cooperation between Singapore and China.
While Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has been the co-chairman, younger ministers have also served alongside him, Mr Lee said.
With the latest Cabinet reshuffle – which will see Mr Heng becoming the Deputy Prime Minister on May 1 and Mr Teo being appointed as Senior Minister – Mr Heng will also be taking over as the co-chair of JCBC.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“We’ve told the Chinese side … and they have said yes, they welcome this,” said Mr Lee.
“They know him because he has interacted with them on many occasions, including when President Xi (Jinping) and Premier Li (Keqiang) came to visit Singapore. He was the accompanying minister so they have a direct feel of him,” he added.
“I think the Chinese side very much want the relationship and friendship to continue,” he said. “It's in the interest of both countries. It is not personal to a few or to particular leaders.”
BELT AND ROAD
Mr Lee was in Beijing to attend the three-day Belt and Road Forum, where he delivered two speeches.
Referring to his second speech where he gave suggestions on how the China-led mega infrastructure project can maximise long-term benefits in its next phase, he said: “I think these are ideas which were friendly received and I hope it will have some influence on the Chinese thinking, as well as the thinking of the individual countries which are participating.”
[h=3]READ: Belt and Road can go beyond physical infrastructure, take transparent approach in next phase: PM Lee[/h]He noted that China is also thinking along the same vein, given that Chinese President Xi in his opening speech had pledged to make the Belt and Road mega project clean, green and financially sustainable.
“(They are) the right objectives to aim for. Of course, the critical thing is to see them implement it in the actual projects which come to fruition.”
Earlier on Monday, Mr Lee held separate meetings with Chinese President Xi. He also met and was hosted to lunch by Chinese Premier Li, with whom he witnessed the signing of several new partnerships between Singapore and China.
At these meetings, the leaders reaffirmed the longstanding relations and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, said the Prime Minister’s Office.
They also discussed the good progress made in the three government-to-government projects, namely the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI).
President Xi also welcomed Singapore's participation in the Belt and Road Forum, and the close and broad-based cooperation between the two countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, including in the areas of infrastructural connectivity, financial connectivity, third country cooperation, and professional and legal services.
The leaders also affirmed the importance of the annual JCBC to guide the multi-faceted bilateral cooperation.
Let's block ads! (Why?)
More...