6-12-2023 (BEIJING) The anticipated top-level meeting between Chinese and Singaporean officials is poised to be highly productive, according to Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on December 6. The Joint Council on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) will assemble for the first time since the elevation of bilateral relations between the two nations, Wong announced.
Wong’s comments came at the onset of a closed-door meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, lasting approximately an hour. The leaders delved into discussions on a range of topics, including opportunities for collaboration in the digital economy, renewable and clean energy, and other emerging sectors, as revealed in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of Singapore following the meeting.
The statement further highlighted exchanges on perspectives regarding regional and global developments, underscoring the mutual commitment to maintaining an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional framework.
This marks the second encounter between Wong and Li in 2023, following Wong’s visit to China in May. In April of the same year, Singapore and China upgraded their relations to a high-quality partnership, ushering in a new era in bilateral ties.
Wong expressed optimism about the forthcoming JCBC meeting, emphasizing its significance as the first such meeting since the bilateral relationship was elevated to an all-encompassing, high-quality, and forward-looking partnership. He noted that bilateral ties are currently in “excellent order” and anticipated a fruitful discussion due to the diverse array of topics to be covered, with representation from multiple ministries in Singapore.
The 19th edition of the JCBC serves as the pinnacle platform for both governments to engage in discussions about collaboration projects. Wong revealed that seven ministries would be represented at the December 7 meeting, where over 20 agreements are expected to be signed.
The meeting’s location in Tianjin holds particular significance, as it commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (TEC), the second of three government-to-government projects focusing on sustainability and green development.
Following the JCBC, Wong and Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang will co-chair the Joint Steering Committee meetings for the three flagship government-to-government projects, reflecting on progress and charting the course for future collaboration.
Premier Li expressed the importance Beijing attaches to Wong’s visit, highlighting the increased cooperation and exchanges that have characterized 2023, demonstrating the strong vitality and potential of the relationship. He reiterated China’s commitment to working with Singapore to achieve even more ambitious goals in this new era of bilateral relations.
In a separate meeting in Beijing on December 6, Wong engaged with Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who oversees economic and financial issues. Discussions revolved around advancing economic and financial cooperation between the two countries. He acknowledged the positive momentum in economic and trade links and emphasized the need to transform agreements into tangible realities.
The meetings also included discussions with members from the financial sector, emphasizing the commitment to broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the financial domain.
