At the start of Singapore visit, Xi writes in Straits Times

Chinese President Xi Jinping had his signed article titled "Build on past achievements for brighter China-Singapore ties" published in the Straits Times before he began his visit to Singapore. Xi is now in the city state on a two-day visit. Here is the full text.

On the occasion of my forthcoming state visit to Singapore at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam, I send my warm greetings and express my commitment to further the growth of China-Singapore relations to the Singaporean people.

Known as the garden state, Singapore is familiar to me, a country I have visited a number of times. During each of my visits, I have been deeply impressed by its dynamic development, its unique tropical urban landscape, and its friendly people who live in contentment.

The occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Singapore and 25th birthday of China-Singapore diplomatic relations adds to the significance of my visit.

In the past five decades since the founding of Singapore, the Government and people of Singapore have, with a pioneering and enterprising spirit, pursued a path of development suited to the country's national conditions.

Singapore enjoys prosperity, social stability and harmony among ethnic groups, and plays a unique and important role in regional and international affairs. Singapore's development has not only brought prosperity to its people, but it has also inspired other Asian countries in their pursuit of development. I am sure that under the leadership of the Singaporean Government, Singapore will make even greater achievements in its development endeavours.

In the quarter of a century since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Singapore have helped, supported and learnt from each other, and this has contributed much to our respective development. Indeed, these past 25 years have witnessed leapfrog development in our relations. China is now Singapore's biggest trading partner. Our bilateral trade last year hit US$79.74 billion (S$112.4 billion), a 28-fold increase over two decades ago.

Singapore was one of the first countries to get involved in China's opening-up programme and is now China's biggest source of investment, and an important offshore RMB (renminbi) trading centre.

Building on the success of Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-city, a third bilateral project of cooperation will be launched. Our cooperation in finance, science, technology, environmental protection, education, culture, social governance, law enforcement and security has been deepened, and produced many deliverables.

There are good reasons why China-Singapore relations have come such a long way.

The leaders of our two countries have approached our relationship as one of strategic and long-term importance, and charted the course for its growth. This has ensured the growth of China-Singapore ties in a fast-changing international environment.