By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-11 11:31:43 | Updated at 2024-11-18 04:18:23
6 days ago
China’s Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday reaffirmed close ties between the two countries and explored cooperation in areas such as trade and sustainable development during Ding’s two-day visit to the city state.
Ding, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, co-chairs the 20th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.
The “long-standing and substantive relations” between Singapore and China were reflected in the convening of the 20th JCBC and related Joint Steering Council meetings, Singapore’s foreign ministry said in a statement released on Monday afternoon.
The leaders also welcomed “the positive momentum of both countries’ wide-ranging and forward-looking cooperation, which spans trade and economic links to digital and financial connectivity, sustainability, innovation, food and agriculture, legal and judicial cooperation, education, health, and people-to-people exchanges”, the ministry added.
The highest-level annual forum between the two countries, the JCBC was previously held in Tianjin last December, with Ding and Wong co-chairing. The council reviews and sets the direction for cooperation between both countries.
During the last session, Singapore and China reaffirmed their commitment to the All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership, which was established in April last year, with discussions covering topics like trade, sustainability and people-to-people exchanges.
