Leaders Commit to Enhanced Collaboration Amid ASEAN Integration Push
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong concluded high-level talks in Beijing on Monday, pledging to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, and regional development. The meeting marked a significant step in reinforcing bilateral relations as both nations celebrate 35 years of diplomatic ties.
Building on Strategic Foundations
Premier Li emphasized China's commitment to maintaining close high-level exchanges with Singapore, building on flagship projects like the Suzhou Industrial Park. "Our cooperation blueprint now extends to frontier sectors including artificial intelligence, smart cities, and green energy," Li stated, highlighting plans to expand third-party market collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative framework.
ASEAN Central to Economic Vision
Both leaders stressed the urgency of implementing the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area pact and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Wong affirmed Singapore's confidence in China's economic trajectory, stating: "Our partnership serves as an anchor for regional stability and multilateral trade systems."
Next-Generation Cooperation
The nations agreed to establish new working groups focusing on:
Digital economy integration
Biomedical research partnerships
Cross-border renewable energy projects
Cultural and educational exchange programs
This strategic alignment comes as ASEAN nations work to accelerate regional economic integration, with bilateral trade between China and Singapore reaching $115 billion in 2023.
