Shanghai, Singapore deepen ties with 18 cooperation pacts

Shanghai and Singapore signed a series of cooperation agreements during the 6th Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council meeting held on Oct 15 in Shanghai.

The agreements cover a wide range of areas, including Belt and Road construction, financial collaboration, technological innovation, digital economy, urban governance, and people-to-people exchange.

A total of 18 projects were formalized through memorandums of understanding, coinciding with the launch of the 2025 Singapore-Shanghai Culture Week.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng, who co-chairs the SSCCC, emphasized the strong partnership between the two cities since the council's founding in 2019.

"Since the establishment of the SSCCC in 2019, Shanghai and Singapore have worked closely together, building a solid bridge of win-win cooperation and friendship," he said.

Gong expressed hope that both sides would further strengthen economic and trade ties, enhance financial opening-up and cooperation, promote mutual empowerment in science and technology, deepen cooperation in the digital economy, green development, and professional service industries, build a beautiful and livable city, and enrich the connotation of cultural exchanges.

Edwin Tong, Singapore's Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, who also co-chairs the council, noted that this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China.

He said that as global hubs for finance and innovation, Shanghai and Singapore can further expand collaboration in digital utilities, financial services, technological innovation, and urban renewal.

Among the key agreements signed was a collaboration between the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the first in their history, according to Zhou Ping, president of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Under the agreement, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will perform in Singapore in March 2026 as part of its Asia-Pacific tour, while the Singapore Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall in October 2026.

DBS Bank signed an MOU with Guotai Haitong Securities to strengthen cooperation in wealth management, capital markets, and financial markets, including their subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Singapore.

"We are honored that in the merger of Guotai Jun'an Securities and Haitong Securities, we served as the financial advisor for Haitong Securities' overseas H-shares," said Zheng Sizhen, CEO of DBS Bank (China) Limited

Tan Keng Hwee, managing director and head of corporate banking China at OCBC Bank, emphasized the bank's role in helping Shanghai-based companies expand into Singapore and across ASEAN.

Tan, who resides in Shanghai, praised the city as a dynamic hub connecting diverse companies.

Luo Bin contributed to this story.