Award Banner
Award Banner

Singapore and China sign 25 agreements as countries step up cooperation, refresh ties

Singapore and China sign 25 agreements as countries step up cooperation, refresh ties
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (right) said he had a “fruitful and substantive” discussion with his Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang.
PHOTO: MDDI

SINGAPORE - Singapore and China took steps to refresh their relationship and deepen collaboration in areas such as trade and finance at the apex bilateral cooperation meeting between the two countries on Nov 11.

At the first Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting held since Mr Lawrence Wong took the helm in Singapore as prime minister in May, progress and continuity were stressed amid the leadership transition.

“With every new generation of leaders, you need to refresh the relationship, continue to strengthen mutual understanding, so that you can build trust and confidence with one another,” Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who took over from PM Wong as JCBC co-chair in 2024, told the Singapore media after a series of meetings held under the umbrella of JCBC on Nov 11.

Leaders from both sides agreed to continue to collaborate and tap opportunities in emerging areas to deliver high-quality outcomes that will benefit both countries and contribute to regional prosperity, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Mr Gan said he had a “fruitful and substantive” discussion with his Chinese counterpart, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, who had taken over from then Vice-Premier Han Zheng in 2023 after the Chinese government started a new five-year term under President Xi Jinping.

Leadership transition notwithstanding, Singapore continues to nurture ties with China, while adapting to new challenges and opportunities.

Mr Gan pointed out that PM Wong is not new to China, having co-chaired the JCBC with Mr Ding in China in 2023.

This year, when it was Mr Ding’s turn to visit Singapore, he met PM Wong again, and also President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

At this year’s JCBC meeting, both sides announced 25 memorandums of understanding and agreements in areas ranging from China’s Belt and Road Initiative to trade, investment and finance. 

Most notably, both countries agreed to ensure that a protocol to further upgrade the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on Dec 31, 2024, thereby making it easier for Singapore investors and service suppliers to invest and trade in China.

Both countries are also looking to expand nationwide a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor, a maritime innovation collaboration currently implemented only in the eastern province of Shandong and the north-eastern city of Tianjin.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat told reporters after the meeting that both countries are exploring how to strengthen supply chain resilience and increase flight connectivity. The volume of passengers and number of flights between the two countries have already bounced back and surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Both sides also discussed projects like the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), which is the first government-to-government project between the two countries and marks its 30th anniversary in 2024.

Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of SIP Chan Chun Sing told reporters that both sides will explore opportunities to cooperate in green development, biomedical sciences and digital economy at the SIP.

He said the SIP has evolved to become a township that takes into account some of the social challenges faced by China, such as an ageing population and the need to care for workers who come from other parts of China to work in Suzhou, a city in south-eastern Jiangsu province.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen the Tianjin Eco-City, the second government-to-government project, as a test-bed for green enterprises to trial new ideas.

As for the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, the third government-to-government project, both sides agreed to explore new initiatives in green economy and to set up a cross-border digital trade platform.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, told reporters that both countries will cooperate further on food security, such as by harmonising inspection standards. This is important as China is Singapore’s second-largest source of fresh fruits and vegetables and its fourth-largest source of seafood.

With Donald Trump poised to return to the White House after winning the recent US presidential election, countries including China and Singapore are bracing themselves for stiffer tariffs and trade disruptions.

Asked about this, Mr Gan said: “The operating environment going forward is likely to be very challenging and continue to have significant uncertainties.”

He pointed out that a stable and secure relationship between China and the US will benefit a small and open economy like Singapore. “We will encourage the US and China to continue to dialogue and find ways to work together even as they compete with one another,” he said.

He also urged Singapore businesses to be nimble and flexible. “Be prepared to adjust our strategy even as the global environment evolves.” 

Mr Chan, meanwhile, stressed that Singapore takes a long-term perspective on China.

“We look beyond the short-term perturbations. Underlying that is a deep sense of trust and respect for one another,” he said. “We are also not complacent. We are constantly on the lookout to better understand the latest challenges that China are grappling with, the latest opportunities.”

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the JCBC this year, Mr Gan and Mr Ding unveiled a sculpture designed by students and faculty from Singapore University of Technology and Design which is made using 3D printing.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.

homepage

trending

trending
    SCDF team recovers body from partially collapsed hotel after Myanmar quake, sets up 2 medical outposts
    47 injured in Tokyo expressway bus accident; at least 1 Singaporean on board
    Stocks dive in Asia, markets hunger for rapid US rate cuts
    Woman who allegedly cheated son in Netflix's Con Mum charged in Singapore with fraud
    Edwin Goh proposes to Rachel Wan, both returning to Singapore after 2 years in Australia
    Man, 55, found dead in car left stationary for 2 days in Paya Lebar
    Singaporeans have to work together to deal with uncertainty, says SM Lee, citing new Trump tariffs
    SG60 initiative timing not planned to coincide with GE, says Tan See Leng
    Former MOF director Shawn Loh seen at Jalan Besar GRC community events
    New platform for a new era: Audi A5 Sedan now available in Singapore
    Fewer candidates this time, but PSP confirms it is contesting West Coast-Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang GRCs
    Woman hit by car at Sengkang East Drive pedestrian crossing after cars refuse to give way

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'I thought I could outwit scammers': Woman who lost over $78,000 to job scam in 4 days
    • PSP's potential new candidates seen at walkabout in Boon Lay
    • How do Trump's tariffs affect you? Here is an explainer
    • Singapore deploys 34-member emergency medical team to aid Myanmar quake relief efforts
    • Salt, sauces and instant noodles to have Nutri-Grade labels by mid-2027
    • 'Revenge porn' victims speak out: 'Will he take pictures of me when I’m not looking?'
    • GE2025: Balancing need for foreign talent with aspirations of Singaporean workers
    • Where the parties stand on key issues ahead of GE2025
    • Trump's tariffs have limited direct impact 'for now' but consequences could be 'wider and more profound': PM Wong
    • 2 Taiwanese men allegedly part of a crime syndicate charged with cheating

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • NewJeans changes social media handles and deletes posts after court ruling
    • Hong Kong actor Lee Lung Kei still plans to marry fiancee 37 years younger after her release from prison
    • 'My brain got so fried up': Gurmit Singh hit by anxiety attack while acting in his 1st Chinese drama
    • Gossip mill: Diana Ser's son to enlist, Takeshi Kaneshiro back after 3 years, agency says late Sulli wasn't forced to film nude scene
    • Ed Sheeran releases new single Azizam
    • UK police charge comedian Russell Brand with rape, sexual assaults
    • Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of having sex with trafficked women
    • 'I was right there just 3cm behind her': Exo's Kai recalls joys of simple life during military service, meeting commuter checking him out online
    • Jim Carrey pays tribute to Val Kilmer's 'grace and courage'
    • E-Junkies: The Click Five will consider making new music if upcoming tour goes well

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • AI and art: Studio Ghibli-inspired trend sparks debate on ethics and consent
    • The iconic Milo Van beverage is now available in supermarkets
    • Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical to make Asia premiere in Singapore this December
    • A first look: Blue Bottle Coffee's cafe at Raffles City, here's what to expect
    • A bright minimalist condo apartment with a loft
    • The truth about integrated developments in Singapore: 5 homeowners share their living experience
    • How to pay in China like a local: 2025 guide for foreigners and tourists
    • Battlebox, but make it art: Portals will change how you see this underground bunker
    • 5 things I didn't expect to find in my new BTO estate
    • Sunda Festival 2025: 2 friends shaping Singapore's music and festival scene

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • US stock futures tumble indicating another plummet on Wall Street
    • Trump compares tariffs to 'medicine' as markets point to rough week ahead
    • Personal loans for new parents: When do they make sense?
    • 9 best personal loans in Singapore with lowest interest rates (April 2025)
    • Best travel insurance policies for places prone to natural disasters (2025)
    • 'We spent just $5,000 on reno': Why some buyers are skipping big renovations in 2025
    • Wedding loan vs. personal loan: What's the best way to finance a wedding in Singapore
    • Triple record-breaking $3.06m EC: How did they manage it?
    • US starts collecting Trump's new 10% tariff, smashing global trade norms

Latest

Latest
  • Taiwan eyes zero tariffs with US, pledges more investment
  • Pope Francis makes surprise first appearance at Vatican after hospital stay
  • Anti-Trump protesters gather in Washington, other US cities
  • Indonesia will not retaliate against Trump tariff, official says
  • Israeli military changes initial account of Gaza aid worker killings
  • EU seeks unity in first strike back at Trump tariffs
  • Aid cuts could leave more women dying in pregnancy and birth, UN says
  • South Korea firefighting helicopter crashes, pilot dead, Yonhap reports
  • Blizzards blanket Moscow in snow after unusually mild winter

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • 'She should be with her family': Employer gives maid plane ticket, $800 to return to Myanmar and search for missing mum
  • 'He needed something to help him fight,' says man who bought Hokkien mee for dying patient
  • Thai woman struggles to evacuate during earthquake while her dog sleeps unfazed
  • Workers painting exterior of Geylang block discover man's skeletal remains in flat
  • 'New, younger' PAP team vows to reclaim WP-controlled Sengkang GRC, says Lam Pin Min
  • New face Jackson Lam 'very good on the ground' and will be asset to Parliament, says Shanmugam
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
  • Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, 81 trapped in Bangkok building rubble
  • Dog dies after being skinned alive in Malaysia, animal welfare group condemns 'barbaric' act
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.