Chinese State Councillor calls on PM

SINGAPORE - Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Mr Tharman also hosted a welcome lunch for Mr Yang, who arrived in Singapore on Thursday for a three-day visit at the invitation of the Government, the ministry said in a statement. Mr Yang last visited Singapore in 2012, when he was still China's foreign minister.

PM Lee and Mr Yang affirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations, the ministry added. They discussed likely events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Singapore-China diplomatic relations next year, such as the exchange of state visits by President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Chinese President Xi Jinping. PM Lee and Mr Yang also exchanged views on regional developments and major power relations, as well as ways to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN and China, the ministry said.

Mr Tharman and Mr Yang discussed the multi-faceted and substantive bilateral cooperation, the ministry added, including ways to deepen financial cooperation as well as regional economic integration and ASEAN-China cooperation.

Mr Yang called on Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and met Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam later yesterday afternoon. ESM Goh and Mr Yang exchanged views on regional developments, including the South China Sea issue. He is due to conclude his visit today.

This article was first published on Aug 30, 2014.
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