MFA Press Statement: Call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Meng Jianzhu, 10 February 2015

            Secretary Meng Jianzhu, Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana this afternoon.  Secretary Meng is visiting Singapore as Special Envoy of the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. 

            PM Lee and Secretary Meng reaffirmed the excellent ties between the two countries and noted that both sides are commemorating the 25^th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.  They had a fruitful discussion on global and regional developments, including the challenges posed by extremist ideology and terrorist activity.  Both sides also discussed ways to step up bilateral cooperation in fields such as anti-narcotics, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption and social governance.

            Secretary Meng also called on and was hosted to dinner by Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean this evening.  They noted the substantive cooperation between the two countries and discussed the upgrading of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement so as to keep up with the times.  Apart from exchanging views on law enforcement cooperation between Singapore and China in tackling transnational crime, drug trafficking, corruption and terrorism, both sides agreed to explore opportunities to strengthen the relationship between their law enforcement and security organisations.  DPM Teo also invited Secretary Meng to visit Singapore to co-chair the 3^rd Singapore-China Social Governance Forum in the near future.  The 2^nd Singapore-China Social Governance Forum co-chaired by DPM Teo and Secretary Meng on the theme of “Social Governance and the Rule of Law” was held in Beijing on 28 July 2014.

            Secretary Meng will be hosted to lunch by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam tomorrow before departing Singapore.

.    .    .    .    .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

10 FEBRUARY 2015