Xi Jinping Meets with President Tony Tan Keng Yam of Singapore

In the morning of August 16, 2014, President Xi Jinping met with President Tony Tan Keng Yam of Singapore in Nanjing, and extended a warm welcome for his special trip to attend the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games. Tony Tan Keng Yam said that as the host of the previous Youth Olympic Games, Singapore is fully aware of the hope and opportunities the Games bring to the young people around the world. He believed that the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games will surely be a success with China's remarkable organization.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Singapore, the bilateral relations have experienced a constantly rapid development, and the bilateral cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, fruitful achievements and broad prospects. These can be attributed to the planning and guidance by the leaders of the two countries at a strategic and long-term perspective all the time, to the constant advancement of the two sides with the times to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results while giving consideration to their respective advantages and development strategies, and to the practical and efficient mechanisms between the two countries. China is satisfied with the sound development momentum in the bilateral relations, and is ready to work together with Singapore to make the bilateral cooperation take the lead in the cooperation between China and the ASEAN countries.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Singapore should maintain the communication momentum between leaders of the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, attach importance to and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and make timely and in-depth exchanges of views on major issues. Both sides should deepen cooperation on flagship projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City, and China welcomes Singapore to get more involved in the development of China's western region. Both sides should make good use of the China-Singapore and China-ASEAN Free Trade Area to promote liberalization and facilitation of bilateral trade, investment and service, and deepen cooperation in fields such as finance, environmental protection, science, technology, people-to-people and cultural engagement and education. China welcomes Singapore to confirm willingly being a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and hopes that the China-Singapore Cooperation Research Center will be established as soon as possible to provide intellectual support for the bilateral cooperation.

Tony Tan Keng Yam said that Singapore has full confidence in China's development and develops the friendly cooperative relations with China from a long term perspective. Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, and Singapore is willing to sum up experience in the development of the bilateral relations with China and to strengthen high-level exchanges and exchanges at all other levels to deepen understanding and trust. Tony Tan Keng Yam invites President Xi Jinping to Singapore for a state visit at his convenience. Singapore hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in fields such as economy, trade and investment, deepen flagship projects, successfully build new projects such as the Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island, and strengthen cooperation in China's central and western regions. Singapore is willing to work with China to advance the construction of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, actively promote the internationalization of RMB, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, exchange experience in social governance, and strengthen cooperation among universities.

Xi Jinping stressed that currently, Asia has become a region with the most development vitality and potential in the world. The Asian countries should seize the opportunities, continue to uphold the theme of peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, and properly manage and control conflicts and differences to realize common development and progress. China pays high attention to developing strategic partnership with the ASEAN, takes the ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, supports the development of the ASEAN, supports the construction of the ASEAN community and supports the ASEAN to play a leading role in regional cooperation. China hopes Singapore can play a constructive role in developing the China-ASEAN relations.

Tony Tan Keng Yam said that Singapore is willing to continuously and actively enhance the mutual trust and cooperation between the ASEAN and China, and to make more contribution to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the meeting.