Chinese President Xi Jinping said China welcomes Singapore's deep involvement in fostering a new development paradigm when meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

The China-Singapore relationship is forward-looking, strategic and exemplary, said Xi.

China is ready to work with the Singaporean side to promote new progress in the all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times, Xi said. 

Underscoring China's readiness to develop close high-level exchanges with Singapore, Xi said the two sides need to ensure sound implementation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor as a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Singapore.

Both sides should promote the optimization and upgrading of cooperation projects in the fields of digitalization and green development, complete the follow-up negotiations on the upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible, and improve the level of trade and investment freedom between the two countries, Xi said.

China will work with Singapore to uphold solidarity and cooperation in the region, oppose group politics, resist bloc confrontation, keep to the right direction of economic and regional integration, and firmly reject the attempts to push for "decoupling and severing supply chains," or to build "a small yard with high fences," said Xi, noting that it is hoped that the two sides will work together to pursue the Global Development Initiative (GDI) in this region.

For his part, Lee said the Singaporean side looks forward to further deepening and expanding Singapore-China relations to continue to improve the existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms with China, and upgrade the three government-to-government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing and the Guangzhou Knowledge City project (3+1).

A strong, friendly China will bring a positive impact on the region and the world and help small and medium-sized countries achieve common development. Singapore sees China's development as positive, wishes the GDI well and will explore ways to participate, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Bangkok, Thailand, November 17, 2022. /Xinhua)