Joint statement of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Singapore on establishing an all-round and high-quality forward-looking partnership
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 1st
Joint statement of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Singapore on establishing an all-round and high-quality forward-looking partnership
At the invitation of Prime Minister Li Qiang of the State Council, People’s Republic of China (PRC), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the Republic of Singapore paid an official visit to People’s Republic of China (PRC) from March 27th to April 1st, 2023.
During the visit, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Premier Li Qiang held talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Chairman Zhao Leji of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and Chairman Wang Huning of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong respectively.
The two sides agreed that the two countries have always planned and promoted the development of China-Singapore mutually beneficial relations from a long-term and strategic perspective. During President Supreme Leader’s state visit to Singapore in 2015, the two countries established an all-round cooperative partnership that keeps pace with the times. Under the guidance of this orientation, bilateral relations have developed well, which is in line with the unique advantages and development priorities of the two countries. The two countries have established pragmatic and diversified cooperation in a wide range of fields to jointly seize new opportunities in emerging fields.
The two sides unanimously agreed to upgrade China-Singapore relations to an all-round and high-quality forward-looking partnership, and plan the future development and define the strategic direction for bilateral relations.
New Zealand reiterated its support for China to promote high-quality development and welcomed China to continue to deepen reform and opening up. China affirms Singapore’s long-term participation in China’s modernization drive, laying a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation, and expresses its support for Singapore’s sustainable development and prosperity.
The two sides highly affirmed the achievements of the "One Belt, One Road" cooperation between the two countries, and will take the 10th anniversary of this year’s initiative as an important opportunity to continuously deepen high-quality cooperation for the benefit of the people of the two countries and regions.
The two sides welcomed the substantial completion of the follow-up negotiations on upgrading the China-Singapore FTA initiated in accordance with the Protocol on Upgrading the FTA signed in 2018, and the signing of the relevant protocols will be completed as soon as possible this year. This is in line with the two countries’ efforts to promote high-standard and high-quality cooperation, which will provide more business-friendly, free and transparent policies for the two countries and enhance market access for trade and investment.
Based on the high-quality and forward-looking bilateral cooperation, the two sides look forward to strengthening comprehensive innovative cooperation between China and New Zealand in the fields of trade and investment, green and digital economy, food security, finance, aviation and humanities exchanges, especially in new areas such as digital transformation, and exploring new growth opportunities with a view to future development. The two sides will make full use of the existing annual China-Singapore Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation and eight local economic and trade councils and other intergovernmental mechanisms to expand new areas of cooperation.
The two sides reiterated that they will continue to strengthen China-ASEAN relations and cooperation under the framework of China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. Singapore welcomes China’s support for ASEAN to maintain its central position in the evolving regional structure. The two countries will make joint efforts to effectively implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, actively promote the construction of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0, and promote mutually beneficial and win-win economic growth.
The two sides will adhere to multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold international law, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN.
China and Singapore will continue to make joint efforts to safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system embodied in the World Trade Organization, maintain an open and inclusive world economy, ensure a stable and smooth global supply chain, jointly meet global challenges, and promote economic globalization in an open, inclusive, inclusive, balanced and win-win direction.