The Doctrine of the Mean is just one of the many philosophies of Confucius that has influenced Chinese Culture for centuries. Miro Lu takes a look at how this practice has gained popularity in Singapore.

When a sitting US President and the supreme leader of DPRK decided to meet for the first time, they didn't choose to rendezvous in Seoul, or in Beijing. Instead, Singapore - a tiny island nation of just 5.6 million people - was hand picked by both parties to host the historic event.

So how has this tiny country managed to become a de facto arbiter of peace? Simple. The city-state's diplomatic strategy is to be friends with all sides. And this could be closely linked to an Asian philosophy.

Among Confucius's many tenets is the Doctrine of Mean, also known as Zhong Yong. Roughly translated, it is the practice of centrality. It is the virtue of maintaining peace and harmony by not bending one way or another, but simultaneously supporting all sides.

LYE LIANG FOOK SENIOR FELLOW, ISEAS-YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE "Singapore has always been an outward-oriented country since independence in 1965. Give its small size, as well as a small domestic market, for its long-term economic prosperity and political survival, it has always had an outward orientation. So, engaging other international players including the major powers including US and China has always been in its DNA."

MIRO LU SINGAPORE "In just under 50 years, Singapore has transformed itself from a third-world backwater into the powerhouse economy today. The country now enjoys the rank of being a global financial and economic hub, and positions itself as a link between the East and the West."

But what happens when your friends don't see each other eye to eye? Amid the escalating trade tensions between the US and China, Singapore maintains a balanced foreign policy replete with diplomacy.

LEE HSIEN LOONG SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER "We remain friends with both. If you have a tense relationship, and one or both of the party say you're either with me or against me, then we are in a difficult spot. And it could happen."

LYE LIANG FOOK SENIOR FELLOW, ISEAS-YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE "From time to time they do have friction like the recent spat over trade matters and US and China threatening further trade measures to be taken each other, from the perspective of Singapore, even though it is very tense, Singapore has tried to urge both sides to resolve their differences at the negotiating table."

While global powers continue to challenge each other, Singapore remains steadfast in its practice of being in the middle. Yet, it is precisely because of this that it can boast prosperity and play a vital role in the international community. Miro Lu, CGTN, Singapore.