Mission Update

          Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi made an official visit to Singapore from 2 to 3 August 2015.

          Minister Wang called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam met and hosted Minister Wang to lunch.  Both sides reaffirmed the excellent relations between Singapore and China, which have continued to deepen and broaden since the establishment of diplomatic ties 25 years ago. 

         Building on the positive bilateral momentum following President Tony Tan Keng Yam’s State Visit to China, PM Lee, Minister Shanmugam and Minister Wang agreed that bilateral relations would be further enhanced through the upgrade of the China-Singapore FTA (CSFTA) and the third Singapore-China Government-to-Government (G-to-G) project in Western China.  Singapore looks forward to hosting President Xi Jinping during his State Visit to Singapore later this year.

         With the officials conducting a joint scoping study on the CSFTA upgrade and the third G-to-G project categorised as a “demonstrative priority project” for China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, the Western Region Development and the Yangtze River Economic Belt strategies, both sides are actively working towards making substantive progress on both issues in the lead up to the next Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and President Xi’s State Visit to Singapore.

        Minister Shanmugam also discussed regional developments with Minister Wang.  Both sides affirmed the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the region.  ASEAN-China relations, premised on mutual respect and China’s support of ASEAN Centrality in the regional architecture, have continued to thrive.  As Singapore assumes the role of Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations on 5 August 2015, we will work closely with ASEAN Member States and China to further mutual cooperation and mutual benefit.  

        The two Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of all parties ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to make meaningful progress on the establishment of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).  In this regard, Singapore welcomes China’s commitment to begin a new phase of consultations on the COC and looks forward to the expeditious negotiations on the framework, structure and elements of the COC.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE
3 AUGUST 2015