MFA Press Statement: State Visit to Singapore by His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, 6 to 7 November

                President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping, who is in Singapore on a State Visit, called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam following the Welcome Ceremony at the Istana today.  Mrs Mary Tan separately hosted Madam Peng Liyuan, spouse of President Xi to tea.  President Tan and Mrs Mary Tan also hosted a State Banquet at the Istana in honour of President Xi, Madam Peng and his delegation. 

               During their meeting, President Tan and President Xi affirmed the close, substantive and multi-faceted relations between Singapore and China as both countries commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.  Both leaders agreed to launch negotiations on the upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and to conclude the negotiations by 2016.  They agreed that the third Government-to-Government project will be based in Chongqing Municipality.  They also agreed to establish an “All Round Cooperative Partnership Progressing with the Times”.  Both leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in areas such as finance, culture, social governance, education, science and technology, environmental protection, and people-to-people relations.  In his Toast Remarks during the Welcome Dinner, President Tan recalled the historical and cultural linkages between both countries and highlighted the role played by our pioneer generation of leaders in laying the strong foundation upon which our bilateral cooperation had flourished in the past decades.

On 7 November, President Xi will meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, after which they will jointly witness a signing ceremony where several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on economic cooperation, education, urban development and governance will be signed.  President Xi and Madam Peng will visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid hybrid “Papilionanda” will be named in their honour.  Prime Minister and Mrs Lee will host President Xi and Madam Peng to lunch at the Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens.  President Xi and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will co-officiate the opening of the China Cultural Centre and President Xi will also deliver the 36^th Singapore Lecture at the National University of Singapore.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

6 NOVEMBER 2015