Singapore Management University (SMU) said on Monday that it has been working with Chinese university and industry partners in relevant applied research and talent development on the third Sino-Singapore government-to-government (G2G) project in Chongqing which was announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit earlier this month.
SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer made such remarks when he spoke at the "SMU China Forum 2015" here on Monday. He noted that SMU has strengths and capabilities to contribute to the four priority areas of collaboration in Chongqing -- financial services, aviation, transport and logistics and information and communication technology.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and China. Over the past two decades, bilateral cooperation has expanded into different areas, including trade, financial services and logistics. Singapore was China's largest source of foreign direct investments in 2014 and 2013, and is China's second largest overseas investment destination in the first half of 2015.
The new move, as Meyer has pointed out at the forum, is also part of the bilateral cultural and educational exchanges which President Xi has highlighted during his visit.
"It is notable that Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his recent Singapore visit that a key factor for the development of Sino-Singapore ties is their young people, who need to understand the history and culture of both countries and foster deeper friendship. I believe that knowledge institutions such as SMU and the multi--sector stakeholders at the forum here today must share the same vision -- that we play critical roles in nurturing youths and in being change makers who shape and transform our future," Meyer said.
Organized for the third year, the SMU China Forum aims to provide business leaders, policy makers and the academia with a common platform to attain in-depth understanding and exchange on current issues and trends that are shaping China's growth critically.
