A new variety of orchid was named after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife at the naming ceremony held in Singapore Botanic Gardens on Saturday. （Photo: Sina Weibo)
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he had a fruitful meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, and Xi's visit has further deepened warm and substantial bilateral ties. [Special coverage]
Lee updated his Facebook account Saturday, saying Singapore signed several agreements with China, including the third government-to-government project in Chongqing, the launch of the upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and collaboration on education, urban management and customs, which will open up more opportunities for mutual exchange, trade, investments and development.
"China's dramatic progress is positive for the region and the world," Lee said. "We will continue to build on what we've achieved since we established diplomatic relations 25 years ago, to take our bilateral relations further forward."
To honor the relationship between China and Singapore, Singapore named a new variety of the national flower orchid, or Papillonanda, after Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
"The naming has been regarded as the highest level of welcome for a foreign leader in Singapore", said Chen Weili, a former official at the national park bureau, adding that the orchid represents lasting friendship between Singapore and other countries.
Singapore has developed a tradition of using foreign leaders' names to name new orchid varieties since 1962.
Early Sunday morning, Xi returned to Beijing after his state visits to Vietnam and Singapore.
