Premier Li: China to push to upgrade cooperation with Singapore

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing, calling for boosting efforts to upgrade China-Singapore cooperation.

Noting that the two countries' leaders have elevated China-Singapore relations to an all-round, high-quality, future-oriented partnership in March this year, Li said bilateral cooperation in various fields has been advancing, displaying new vitality.

Looking forward, China is willing to work with Singapore to follow the strategic guidance of the two leaders, view bilateral relations from regional and global levels, adhere to high-level strategic mutual trust and advance mutually beneficial cooperation with high quality to better benefit the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional stability and prosperity, he said.

The Chinese premier called on both sides to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen the connectivity of their development strategies and take the opportunity to further upgrade the free trade agreement to yield more results in fields such as the digital economy, green development, financial services and ocean energy utilization.

Li urged greater efforts to advance the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and continue to be at the forefront of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Singapore and other regional countries and speed up the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations to inject new impetus into regional integration.

Wong said Singapore attaches great importance to bilateral relations, expressing his willingness to maintain close high-level exchanges with China and promote practical cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, green development and the digital economy.

He vowed to work with China to play a positive role in safeguarding regional peace, stability and development and push for the continuous development of the all-round high-quality, future-oriented partnership between the two countries.