Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean visited Beijing, the People’s Republic of China on 11 April 2019. Deputy Prime Minister Teo is visiting Beijing in conjunction with the 7th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership to be held in Yan’an (Shaanxi) from 14 to 15 April.
At the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary Zhao Leji, both leaders reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations. They expressed satisfaction with the substantive exchanges on leadership development and mutually beneficial cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially through the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC). They also exchanged views on legal and judicial cooperation, including in the areas of anti-corruption and law enforcement. Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Secretary Zhao agreed that our two countries shared many common challenges and both sides should maintain regular exchanges on these issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo met Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC and Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Guo Shengkun. They reaffirmed the positive momentum of our bilateral cooperation, including in legal and judicial cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Secretary Guo also exchanged views on issues of common interest, including in the fields of combating transnational crime, counter-terrorism, countering drug abuse and promoting social governance exchanges.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo met and was hosted to lunch by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC and Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Director Yang Jiechi. They reaffirmed the longstanding ties between our two countries and the good progress made by our three Government-to-Government projects, namely the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, and the CCI, as well as the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, which is a State-Level Bilateral Cooperation Project. They discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation, including in Smart Cities development and third country cooperation in Southeast Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including Sino-US relations, ASEAN-China relations, and regional trade arrangements.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo met and was hosted to dinner by Member of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense GEN Wei Fenghe. They reaffirmed the warm and friendly defence ties between our two countries. They also discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, including the conduct of bilateral Army exercises and Exercise Cooperation in Singapore this year. They also exchanged views on the international and regional security situation.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo will travel to Suzhou tomorrow to attend the commemorative activities for the 25th anniversary of the SIP.
DPM Teo is accompanied by Minister (Culture, Community and Youth) Grace Fu; Minister (Trade & Industry) and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing; Minister (Prime Minister’s Office) and Second Minister (Education) (Finance) Indranee Rajah; Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Home Affairs) (National Development) Sun Xueling; Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs) (Trade & Industry) Dr Tan Wu Meng; as well as senior officials from various Ministries and agencies.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
11 APRIL 2019