Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is setting the stage for a new era of partnership as he prepares for his first official visit to the Chinese mainland. In an exclusive interview with China Media Group, Wong highlighted Singapore's commitment to deepening bilateral ties as the two sides mark 35 years of diplomatic relations.
Wong outlined three key objectives for this visit: strengthening connections with leaders from the Chinese mainland, reaffirming a shared commitment to cooperation, and addressing regional and global challenges in today’s uncertain world. Projects like the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City have evolved into hubs for innovation in sustainability, green development, digital transformation, and even new fields such as low-carbon energy and biomedical sciences.
He praised the economic transformation on the Chinese mainland, describing the progress as nothing short of an "economic miracle." The remarkable urban transformation and the resilience of its people serve as powerful inspirations for innovative governance.
Amid rising global uncertainty and protectionist measures—especially punitive tariffs—the PM warned that unilateral moves could destabilize global trade and hurt smaller, open economies like Singapore. He emphasized that rather than abandoning the multilateral system, the world should focus on reform and improvement. Wong also reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to regional cooperation through frameworks such as ASEAN, RCEP, and CPTPP, while welcoming the progress of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 negotiations and supporting the Chinese mainland's accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA).
Looking ahead, Wong is set to speak at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, calling for renewed global commitment to cooperation and openness. "Without rules and longstanding norms of collaboration, countries everywhere will be worse off," he stated. 🚀🤝
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Singapore PM signals stronger bilateral ties ahead of China visit
cgtn.com
