Editor's note: Tang Qifang is an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

From November 12 to 16, 2018, Premier Li Keqiang is on an official visit to Singapore and will attend a series of leaders' meetings featuring cooperation among East Asian countries.

This is the first visit to Singapore by a Chinese premier in eleven years, and also the first official visit by Premier Li Keqiang, which is of great significance to promoting the development of bilateral relations. During his trip, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will be the main topic.

At present, Singapore has become an important platform and a regional hub under the BRI. As an important international trade center, shipping center and financial center, it has a unique geographical advantage over most of the other countries along the Belt and Road.

Moreover, Singapore is one of the first few countries that supported the BRI and has been very proactive in formulating policies and business plans to promote cooperation with China.

According to the statistics of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, nearly one-third of China's investment in the Belt and Road countries flows first to Singapore. Singapore's investment in China accounts for 85 percent of the total investment in the country by the “Belt and Road” countries.

Over the past five years, China-Singapore cooperation under the BRI has achieved remarkable progress, which is characterized by strategic, institutionalized and all-around engagement.

First of all, China and Singapore have achieved strategic alignment under the initiative. The alignment with the development strategies of countries along the route is an important part of the BRI.

The cooperation between China and Singapore is exemplary in this respect. From Suzhou Industrial Park to Tianjin Eco-City and Chongqing Strategic Interconnection Demonstration Project, the partnership projects between the two countries have embodied the close ties of the two economies.

The Sino-Singapore (Chongqing) Strategic Interconnection and Demonstration Project was officially launched in November 2015. It's the main achievement of President Xi Jinping's state visit to Singapore in 2015 and an embodiment of the strategic significance of the China-Singapore cooperation under the BRI.

This project can not only help promote the economic and social development of China's vast western region but also connect it with a number of Southeast Asian countries through the southbound corridor.

Secondly, China and Singapore have achieved efficient and institutionalized communication. For the Chongqing Project, the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore has set up the “Chongqing Connectivity Initiative Administrative Bureau Office” to focus on project implementation and communication with China.

Since April 2016, under the auspices of the two governments, Chinese and Singaporean enterprises have held the “Belt and Road” Roundtable Conference several times. Before long, the two governments hosted the first Singapore-China BRI Investment Forum.

Thirdly, China and Singapore have achieved all-round cooperation. The joint efforts pushing for the BRI give rise to a multi-level cooperation structure involving the central government, local government and business communities, and cover almost all areas of cooperation.

Among them, infrastructure, finance, technological innovation and third-party markets are the focus. Cooperation in these key areas can give full play to the complementarity of the two countries' advantages and enhance Singapore's role as an important platform and a regional hub.

The joint promotion of the BRI by China and Singapore has far-reaching impacts and great significance in all dimensions.

For the two countries, it provides a broad space and infinite possibilities for the already fruitful bilateral economic cooperation. For instance, cooperating in the third-party market has become a new highlight in bilateral cooperation.

For the region, it will provide new opportunities and inject new dynamism into the ASEAN community and East Asia integration.

For the world, China and Singapore, both beneficiaries of the open economy, have joined forces to help protect multilateralism and promote an open world economy.

In the context of the world economic downturn and the resurgence of protectionism, the rising China-Singapore cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative is undoubtedly an invaluable silver lining, which gives people greater confidence and hope. Premier Li Keqiang's visit will create a more harmonious atmosphere for the development of China-Singapore relations and create a better future for the bilateral cooperation under the BRI.

(Cover: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Singapore, November 12, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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