China, Singapore to Deepen All-Round Cooperation

China and Singapore Tuesday expressed the hope to widen cooperative relations, especially in the field of political, trade, cultural, scientific and technical exchange in the new century.

During the meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, who arrived here Monday from Italy for a four-day official visit to Singapore, said the relations between China and Singapore have been growing rapidly in recent years. There are frequented high-profile exchange of visits and cooperation between the two countries. The Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) project is a good and successful example of bilateral cooperation.

Li said China is willing to explore ways with Singapore to widen mutual beneficial cooperation in the field of economy, trade, human resources and the hi-tech sector, adding that China is expected Singapore to play an active role in developing China's Western region.

The Chinese vice-premier held that Singapore enterprises have the advantage in capital, technology, service and management, saying China hopes to further strengthening the cooperation with Singapore in these sectors.

China and Singapore are also willing to promote the exchange of visits of students of the two countries so as to deepen mutual understanding of the younger generation, he said.

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong also expressed the hope to deepen and broaden cooperation between China and Singapore.

Singapore would like to see China's economy continue developing rapidly because it will not only benefit Singapore but also benefit the Asian region, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues of anti-terrorism and on major international and regional matters.

( May 29, 2002)