Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Beijing on Tuesday, with both leaders reaffirming the enduring friendship between their nations. The meeting also saw President Xi congratulate Wong on his second term.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. President Xi highlighted that a consistent adherence to mutual understanding and respect has been the bedrock of their stable and healthy bilateral relationship.
President Xi noted that China-Singapore cooperation has historically aligned with China’s development priorities, yielding substantial achievements such as the Suzhou Industrial Park. This landmark project has not only contributed significantly to the modernization efforts of both countries but has also set a benchmark for regional cooperation.
Xi urged both sides to draw wisdom from their shared history, carry forward strong traditions, and ensure the “tree of China-Singapore friendship” continues to thrive and bear abundant fruits. He stressed the importance of viewing and developing bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.
To facilitate further development, President Xi called for consolidating the political foundation of their friendship. This includes mutual support on each other’s core interests and major concerns, thereby enhancing political mutual trust.
China extended a welcome for Singapore’s continued deep engagement in its development. Xi encouraged intensified Belt and Road cooperation and the creation of new landmark achievements in emerging fields such as the digital economy, green development, and artificial intelligence. He also pushed for the improvement and upgrading of existing major projects to foster a new chapter in high-quality cooperation. Beyond economic ties, both leaders advocated for frequent people-to-people exchanges to deepen cultural links and strengthen the popular support underpinning their friendship.
President Xi reiterated China’s belief that peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit represent the unstoppable trend of the times, asserting that the world must not revert to hegemonism or the “law of the jungle.” China expressed its willingness to work with Singapore to uphold fairness and justice, jointly advocating for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Prime Minister Wong echoed these sentiments, emphasising Singapore and China’s deep-rooted and enduring friendship, built on mutual respect and trust. He affirmed Singapore’s continued adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to “Taiwan independence.”
Wong stated Singapore’s readiness to fully leverage the opportunities presented by China’s prosperity. He expressed a desire to expand bilateral trade and investment, enhance cooperation in areas like digital economy, artificial intelligence, and new energy, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges to elevate Singapore-China relations to new heights. Facing a turbulent global landscape, Prime Minister Wong also affirmed Singapore’s commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation with China on regional and multilateral platforms to jointly uphold multilateralism and the international order.
