China President meets Singapore PM on bilateral ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, calling for mutual understanding and respect on issues related to the two countries' core interests and major concerns.

China and Singapore forged a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times last year during Xi's state visit to the southeast Asian city-state, Xinhua news agency reported.

Noting the importance of top-level design of bilateral ties, Xi proposed that high-level exchanges be maintained and communication with Singapore strengthened.

China pays great attention to Singapore's interest in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Xi, adding that China is ready to build the China-Singapore Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality into a highlight of bilateral ties.

The Chinese President also called for the advancement of two flagship government-to-government cooperative projects, namely the Suzhou Industrial Park established in 1994 in China's Jiangsu province, and the Tianjin Eco-city inaugurated in 2008 in country's port city of Tianjin.

The two countries should deepen cooperation in areas of finance, the Internet, social management, law enforcement security, counter-terrorism and anti-corruption, said Xi.

Xi expects Singapore, as the coordinator for China-Asean relations, to push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

For his part, Lee spoke highly of the smooth progress of bilateral cooperation in all areas under the guidance of a partnership of all-round cooperation.

Lee is here to attend the G20 Hangzhou summit from September 4-5.

--IANS

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