On 20 August, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, at the Istana.

Yang noted that the all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times established by President Xi Jinping and the Singaporean leaders in 2015 has charted the course for bilateral relations. In the face of COVID-19, the two countries have stood in solidarity, worked together to keep industrial and supply chains stable, and conducted fruitful cooperation against the virus. In this 30th anniversary year of diplomatic ties, the bilateral relationship stands at a new starting point. China will work with Singapore to consolidate the gains in COVID-19 response, deepen high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road, build up the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and scale up cooperation on innovation. The tree of China-Singapore cooperation will grow even more luxuriant.

Noting the growing instability and uncertainty in the global situation, Yang described COVID-19 as a strong reminder that mankind has a shared future. China is ready to work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to deepen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation, uphold economic globalization and international fairness and justice. This will bring new contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Lee said that Singapore and China have gone through many changes in the world. Bilateral relations have reached a level unimaginable three decades ago. COVID-19 makes it more important for countries to communicate in a rational way and collaborate with each other. Singapore hopes to increase high-level exchanges with China and make the most of the existing bilateral mechanisms. Singapore will promote ASEAN-China relations, and the cooperation on regional and global economic recovery.

During his visit, Director Yang had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of shared interest with Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.