[BEIJING] Singapore and China on Monday (Jun 23) inked four agreements on cooperation in areas such as training and knowledge exchange, in a ceremony witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
This was on the first full day of PM Wong’s introductory visit to China, which is from Jun 22 to 26.
One memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Monday will see the joint development of legal talent.
Under the MOU, trainees nominated by Singapore’s law ministry and China’s justice ministry will attend postgraduate law programmes in each other’s law schools. They will also take part in courses conducted by government agencies, law schools, bar associations, law societies, arbitration centres and other relevant institutions.
Singapore and China have also signed a letter of intent to explore establishing a Senior Officials’ Exchange Programme, which is intended to deepen the two countries’ longstanding human resource development cooperation and strengthen officials’ mutual understanding and friendship through more frequent exchanges.
It will serve as an additional platform for the exchange of views on leadership development and dealing with common challenges, complementing the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership.
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Another letter of intent was signed to jointly develop a Third Country Training Programme, for government officials from Asean member states and Timor-Leste.
This programme will focus on several key areas, such as clean-energy transition, sustainable urban development, climate resilience and support for the Asean Power Grid. It is expected to help raise regional capacity to tackle long-term challenges in sustainability and resilience.
Finally, a data-exchange agreement will enhance intellectual property data sharing, as both countries advance their digital capabilities and develop tech-driven solutions.
The signing ceremony followed a meeting between PM Wong and Li earlier on Monday.
In their discussion, they took note of the launch of the Singapore-China over-the-counter bond market arrangement, under which participating Singapore banks will provide trading and custody services for onshore RMB bonds, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The arrangement will also enhance international investors’ access to China’s bond market, through Singapore, it added.
During this meeting, Li also updated PM Wong on his priorities for China. These priorities include China’s continued reform, as well as its focus on achieving “high-quality development”.
MFA noted: “PM Wong expressed confidence in China’s long-term economic development.”
At the beginning of their meeting, PM Wong said that in a more uncertain and turbulent world, Singapore and China must not only forge stronger bilateral ties, but also work together in regional and multilateral platforms.
He agreed with Li’s remarks that the current international landscape is “marked by intertwined turbulence and changes, with increasing uncertainty and instability”.
Li said in Mandarin that under such circumstances, it is “especially vital” for China and Singapore to strengthen cooperation and exchanges.
PM Wong noted that the two countries’ relationship has “grown from strength to strength”, particularly following the upgrade of ties to an “All-Around High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership” in 2023.
This partnership has provided a “clear strategic direction” for cooperation, and provides a basis for Singapore and China to come up with fresh ideas and continue to find new ways to strengthen cooperation, such as in the digital and green spaces, he said.
“This deep level of trust and understanding cannot be taken for granted,” said PM Wong. “It has to be cultivated year after year, generation after generation.”
In his remarks, he noted that his introductory visit to China comes shortly after Singapore’s general election on May 3.
He said that some in his delegation are new members of his team. He added: “I’m encouraging everyone in my Cabinet to continue visiting China regularly, so that we can continue to build and strengthen the close ties between our two countries.”
Li similarly noted that PM Wong’s “decision to make China (his) first destination outside Asean after (his) re-election reflects the new Singapore government’s strong emphasis on China-Singapore relations”.
This meeting at the Great Hall of the People took place shortly after a welcome ceremony for PM Wong. This was the first time the leaders have met since the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May.
PM Wong is in China until Thursday, for what is his first official visit to the country since becoming prime minister in May last year. His trip also takes place as Singapore and China celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties, he noted.
For these reasons, the visit is “extra meaningful”, he said.
In addition to the meeting and the ceremony, Li also hosted PM Wong and his delegation to a dinner banquet on Monday night.
On Tuesday, PM Wong is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and China’s third in command, National People’s Congress chairman Zhao Leji.
