China, Singapore to bolster ties

China and Singapore vowed on Monday to enhance their bilateral ties, actively expand third-market cooperation, jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, and uphold stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains.

Premier Li Qiang and visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made the pledge during their talks in Beijing.

Li said that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important partners. Over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have been improving continuously, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, he said.

Li expressed China's willingness to maintain close high-level exchanges with Singapore, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, and deliver more fruitful results from bilateral relations and cooperation.

He underlined the need for both countries to make good use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, implement cooperation plans under the Belt and Road Initiative, and further expand and strengthen flagship cooperative projects.

He also called on both countries to expand the volume of bilateral trade and investment, create more highlights in their cooperation in the fields of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, actively expand third-market collaboration, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that China and Singapore are both beneficiaries and defenders of economic globalization and free trade, Li said that they should adhere to open regionalism and true multilateralism, actively promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and maintain the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains.

Li expressed China's commitment to working with Singapore and other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to push for the signing and implementation of the Upgrade Protocol for Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement with high quality, and accelerate regional economic integration.

Wong's five-day visit starting on Sunday marks his first official visit to China since he took office as Singa-porean prime minister in May. He is also expected to meet with President Xi Jinping.

Wong told Li that the relationship between Singapore and China is enduring and growing stronger.

Singapore looks forward to seizing the opportunity of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year to enhance close high-level exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, deepen their friendship and mutual trust, further expand third-market cooperation, and promote closer people-to-people exchanges, he said.

Wong expressed his country's confidence about the Chinese economy, saying that Singapore is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China to uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on talent development, intellectual property and other areas.

Wong will join Li to attend the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, which will be held in Tianjin from Tuesday to Thursday.

Li will attend the opening plenary session and deliver a special address, meet with foreign guests and have a conversation with representatives of the foreign business community, according to the Foreign Ministry.

More than 1,700 representatives from over 90 countries and regions will take part in the event, ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday at a regular news briefing.

At a time when the global economy is experiencing sluggish growth and facing rising unilateralism and protectionism, the record number of registered participants at this year's meeting shows the will of all parties in upholding economic globalization and the free trade system, Guo said.

China hopes to work with participants from around the world to inject more stability and certainty into the world economy, he added.

Zhao Jia contributed to this story.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn