China and Singapore agree to raise bilateral ties

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang welcomed Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, as the two leaders seek to raise bilateral ties to a new high.

Premier Li, who invited his counterpart to the three-day visit, emphasized that the two countries are good neighbors and the importance of developing China-Singapore relations.

Chinese  Premier Li Keqiang holds a welcome ceremony for  Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing, September 19, 2017. /CGTN Photo

 Singapore is a coordinator of China-ASEAN ties and the rotating chair of ASEAN until mid-2018.   Lee said Singapore will spare no efforts to facilitate the relationship between China and ASEAN, and enhance cooperation among the member states.

Lee praised the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. He said it can help further integrate China into regional and international economic systems while boosting growth in other countries.  

Chinese  Premier Li Keqiang holds bilateral talks with  Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, September 19, 2017. /Reuters Photo

 The two leaders decided to maintain the good momentum of the high-level exchanges between the two countries, and further cooperate at all levels on the Belt and Road Initiative.

Lee served as Singapore's deputy prime minister in 1990 and was appointed as prime minister in August 2004. He was consecutively re-elected in 2006, 2011 and 2015.

So far, Lee has paid four official visits to China.

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