Singaporean Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is on an official visit to China, marking a significant chapter in bilateral cooperation as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their relations next year.
The visit comes at a pivotal time in the evolving international landscape and recognizes Lee’s substantial contributions to bilateral relations. Experts highlight that Singapore has successfully completed a smooth leadership transition, ensuring continuity in its foreign policy. Additionally, the global geopolitical environment remains uncertain, with the prospect of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House next year, raising new challenges for the Asia-Pacific region.
Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, emphasized that Lee’s visit not only aims to strengthen Singapore-China relations but also to explore potential avenues for coordination amidst uncertainties in future China-U.S. relations. Gu noted that Lee’s extensive political influence and diplomatic experience position him uniquely to further bilateral ties and contribute to China-U.S. dialogue.
This visit marks Lee’s 15th to China in the past 20 years, underlining his profound contributions to Singapore-China relations. Under his leadership as prime minister, Singapore and China have developed a robust investment and trade relationship, underscoring their economic interdependence.
Since 2013, China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner, while Singapore has consistently ranked as China’s largest foreign investor. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $108 billion, and Singapore’s cumulative investments in China exceeded $141 billion by the end of that year.
During this visit, Lee’s itinerary includes Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou, signaling a renewed emphasis on deepening bilateral ties through economic and cultural collaboration.
Lee will engage with key bilateral projects that embody the spirit of collaboration. One such initiative is the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), a flagship project established in 1994 to advance China’s reform and opening up. Combining Singapore’s planning expertise with China’s development capabilities, the SIP has grown into a thriving hub for advanced manufacturing and technology. Over the past 30 years, it has achieved three milestones, each surpassing the “trillion” mark: a cumulative tax revenue of 1.09 trillion yuan ($150 billion), total fixed asset investments of 1.1 trillion yuan, and a total import and export volume of $1.54 trillion.
Lee’s stop in Shanghai will also highlight the journey of CapitaLand Group, a Singaporean real estate giant with deep roots in China. The company has invested in over 200 projects across 40 cities, including iconic developments like Raffles City.
In Beijing, Lee is poised to engage in high-level dialogues on emerging opportunities for collaboration. Topics likely to be discussed include the digital economy, green energy, and advanced manufacturing—areas aligned with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and Singapore’s push for global innovation.
According to Gu, China and Singapore are expected to build on past successes, further elevate their cooperation, and inject fresh momentum into the overall interaction between China and Southeast Asia through this visit.
Reference(s):
Lee Hsien Loong visits China: A renewed focus on bilateral ties
cgtn.com
