Li Keqiang Meets with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore

On April 29, 2019, Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Li Keqiang said that in recent years, the continued, healthy and stable development of China-Singapore relations increases the well-being of the two peoples. The consensus reached last year by leaders of the two countries is being gradually implemented. The positive effects of the upgrading of the China-Singapore free trade agreement has been shown, with steady progress in cooperation in various fields. Singapore has become the largest foreign investment source of China for six consecutive years. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Singaporean side to well build the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and promote cooperation in such aspects as finance, third-party market, technological innovation and smart cities. We are ready to work with the Singaporean side to speed up the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), complete consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with the set objectives, deepen cooperation within China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other mechanisms and promote stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore-China relations are developing well. Last year, the two countries signed an upgraded version of the free trade agreement, which gave a strong boost to bilateral cooperation in various fields. The Belt and Road Initiative has contributed to regional and global cooperation, and Singapore is willing to actively participate in it to expand cooperation with the Chinese side in the third-party market. The three intergovernmental cooperation projects between Singapore and China are progressing smoothly. The Singaporean side is ready to work with the Chinese side to strengthen the mechanism platform of China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, deepen cooperation in smart cities and digital economy, and promote the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The Singaporean side is ready to continue to contribute to the development of ASEAN-China relations.

After the meeting, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.

Xiao Jie attended the meeting.