Chinese President Xi Jinping and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met here Saturday and compared notes on bilateral ties and China-ASEAN cooperation. [Special coverage]
Speaking highly of the development of China-Singapore relations in the past 25 years, Xi said he has agreed with his Singaporean counterpart, Tony Tan Keng Yam, and Lee on building between their countries a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times.
He called on China and Singapore to enhance political mutual trust, strengthen top-level guidance and upgrade practical cooperation for mutual benefits, win-win results and common development.
The two countries should launch as soon as possible their third government-to-government project based in Chongqing, a sprawling metropolis in southwestern China, Xi said.
He said China and Singapore should expand cooperation in economy, trade and investment, and actively explore mode of cooperation between the two countries' enterprises in a third market within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
China and Singapore have agreed to launch and conclude at an early date negotiations on an upgrade of their free trade agreement (FTA), which would inject fresh vigor into bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, Xi said.
Xi called on the two countries to tap the potential of cooperation in finance and jointly build a financial platform to support regional production capacity cooperation.
He called on the two sides to maintain the momentum of people-to-people exchanges, making a success of exchanges between youths and university students of the two countries, and expand cooperation in education and human resources to raise the level of cultural cooperation.
China and Singapore should also deepen interactions in such fields as scientific and technological innovation, green development and modern agriculture, boost cooperation in social governance and law enforcement, jointly fight transnational crimes and strengthen exchanges between the two countries' militaries, Xi said.
Meanwhile, Xi pointed out that China and ASEAN face an important opportunity to develop relations.
Xi said his country is ready to strengthen strategic dialogue and deepen practical cooperation in various fields with ASEAN countries to jointly lift China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a new height.
The Chinese side is confident that Singapore, which took the rotating seat as coordinator for China-ASEAN relations in August, will guide China and ASEAN countries to implement various initiatives, dedicate in safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea and advance the sound and stable development of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, Xi said.
He said the Chinese side stands ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with Singapore within regional and global mechanisms like the United Nations.
Lee, for his part, said Xi's state visit to Singapore is of great significance and will open a new chapter of development of Singapore-China relations.
He noted that the achievements made in bilateral ties during Xi's stay in Singapore testified that the Southeastern Asian country is confident in China's development.
Singapore is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and global affairs, including in addressing the climate change and within the G20, Lee said.
Lee said his country supports the inclusion of the Chinese currency, the RMB, into the special drawing right currency basket of the International Monetary Fund.
The Singaporean side also supports ASEAN in deepening cooperation with China, and supports proper management of disputes on the South China Sea in the light of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, said the Singaporean prime minister.
After their talks, the Chinese and Singaporean leaders witnessed the signing of a slew of cooperation documents in such areas as inter-connectivity, trade, construction of Belt and Road, city governance and planning, education and custom.
