Speech by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sam Tan During the Committee of Supply Debate, 2 March 2020

1 Thank you Mr. Chairman. I shall now elaborate on our relationship with China and our engagement of other key partners. Please allow me to do so in Mandarin.

Singapore-China Relations

2 主席先生，我们今年庆祝新中建交30周年。新加坡和中国的外交关系源远流长。在正式建交之前，建国总理李光耀先生早在1976年便到访过中国。接着在1978年时，时任中国副总理的邓小平先生也前来新加坡访问。这两次的高层领导互访，为双边关系奠定了坚实的基础。

[English translation: Mr. Chairman, we are celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China this year. Our links with China are longstanding, preceding the establishment of our diplomatic relations, with our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew visiting China in 1976 and then-Senior Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visiting Singapore in 1978. This exchange of high-level visits by our leaders set a strong foundation for our bilateral relations.]

3 主席先生，刚才孙雪玲议员询问新中双边关系的情况。我们在很多方面都取得了亮眼的成绩。王瑞杰副总理去年10月访问中国并与韩正副总理共同主持新中双边合作联合委员会（简称JCBC）的第15次会议。双方也在会议上签署了贸易、金融、文化、环境以及青年实习交流计划等九份谅解备忘录和协议。韩正副总理最近更向王瑞杰副总理建议，把公共卫生纳入JCBC的合作框架内。新加坡支持这样的一个建议。我们也期待今年接待韩正副总理到新加坡访问并出席JCBC的会议。除了JCBC会议之外，我们也会继续的与中国在其他高层次平台合作，如新中领导力论坛，以及新中社会治理高层论坛。

[English translation: Mr Chairman, to MP Sun Xueling’s question on the state of Singapore-China relations, we have made good progress in many areas. DPM Heng Swee Keat visited China last October in conjunction with the 15^th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which he co-chaired with PRC Vice Premier Han Zheng. Singapore and China had then signed nine bilateral MOUs and agreements, ranging from trade, finance, culture, the environment, and a youth internship exchange programme. Recently, Vice Premier Han suggested to DPM Heng to include cooperation in public health as a new agenda item under the JCBC framework. Singapore is supportive of this, and we look forward to hosting Vice Premier Han’s visit to Singapore for the JCBC later this year. In addition to the JCBC, Singapore will continue to work with China through other high-level platforms, such as the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership and the Singapore-China Social Governance Forum.]

4 主席先生，经贸合作是两国双边关系的重要基石。从2013年以来，中国一直是新加坡最大的贸易伙伴。与此同时，新加坡也是中国最大的海外投资者。除了两国政府间的三大合作项目之外，我们还有八个省级经贸理事会，能与中国各省市进行更有成效的合作和交流。这里也请让我回答陈佩玲议员的提问。她想知道我们年轻一代的领导班子在未来几年将如何加强与中国领导层的关系。主席先生，王瑞杰副总理和其他负责省级经贸理事会的多位部长们，都定期与中方对口领导会面，并且共同省视多项合作项目。许多第四代的部长也通过出席在中国以及新加坡举行的高层活动，与中国的领导层建立了良好关系。我们的第四代领导将能继续加强两国之间的友谊，和信任。

[English translation: Mr Chairman, economic cooperation is a key plank of our bilateral relationship. Since 2013, China has been Singapore’s largest trading partner, and Singapore has been China’s largest foreign investor. Apart from our three Government-to-Government projects, we have eight Provincial Business Councils, which facilitate more effective engagement and cooperation with Chinese provinces and municipalities. This brings me to MP Tin Pei Ling’s question on how Singapore’s younger leaders will deepen their relations with Chinese leaders over the next few years. Mr Chairman, DPM Heng, as well as the Ministers-in-charge of our Government-to-Government projects and Provincial Business Councils, meet their Chinese counterparts regularly to jointly review these projects. Many 4G Ministers have also attended high-level events in China and Singapore, through which they built up rapport with Chinese leaders. Our 4G leadership will continue to strengthen the friendship and trust between our countries.]

5 刚才孙雪玲议员也问起2019年冠状病毒疫情如何影响两国间现有的合作关系。中国在这次疫情爆发中首当其冲，新加坡也深受这个危害全球健康的病毒影响。要战胜这个无国界无边界的疫情，国际间的合作至关重要。在这个非常重要的环节上，中国推行了果断的政策阻止疫情大规模扩散并且与国际社会合作，让许多国家的卫生机构，包括新加坡，都能够迅速研发病毒测试剂，并制定了合适的措施，共同控制疫情。中国这种开诚布公的做法，值得赞赏和肯定。

[English translation: To MP Sun Xueling’s question on the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on our existing cooperation, while China has borne the brunt of the recent outbreak of COVID-19, Singapore has also been seriously affected by this global health problem. International cooperation is crucial to effectively combating COVID-19, a disease which respects no boundaries. During this crucial juncture, China took decisive measures to prevent further spread of the virus, and cooperated with the international community, which allowed Health Ministries of many countries, including Singapore, to swiftly develop diagnostic tests and come up with appropriate measures to manage the outbreak together. China’s transparent and sincere actions deserve praise and affirmation.]

6 主席先生，疾风知劲草、患难见真情，我们必须在这个艰难的抗炎时期继续的支援中国。新加坡政府已经捐款了100万新元给新加坡红十字会，作为它帮助中国人民的种子资金。我们也同时捐赠医疗用品和病毒测试剂给中国。新加坡红十字会的筹款活动也获得了我们商会、企业、社会团体和公众的广泛支持。到目前为止，我们总共已经筹了超过600万新元。这些自动自发的民间的筹款活动充分地显示出雪中送炭的精神。

[English translation: Mr Chairman, it is in troubled times that one is tested, and a friend in need is a friend indeed. It is vital for us to continue supporting China through these difficult times of combating the virus. On our part, the Singapore Government contributed S$1 million as seed funding to catalyse the Singapore Red Cross’ public appeal to raise funds to help our Chinese friends, and donated medical supplies and diagnostic test kits to China. The Singapore Red Cross’ fundraising drive has received support from our trade associations and chambers, companies and local community organisations, as well as members of the public, and has raised more than S$6 million to date. These proactive fundraising efforts by our people amply demonstrated Singapore’s spirit of providing assistance in times of need.]

7 展望将来，我们将继续与中国探讨新的合作领域和掌握新的机遇，达致双方互惠共赢的局面。我们也通过高层的互访、体制化框架以及双边的合作关系，继续扩大和深化两国之间的友好关系。

[English translation: Looking to the future, we will continue to explore and develop new areas of cooperation with China, and leverage new opportunities, for our mutual benefit. We will also build on high-level exchanges, institutionalised frameworks, and concrete cooperation to further broaden and deepen our good bilateral relations.] 

Other Key Partners

8 Mr. Chairman, please allow me to continue in English.  It is also critical for us to keep up our engagement of regional and strategic partners outside our immediate neighbourhood. Now allow me to address MP Cheryl Chan’s question on how MFA intends to strengthen our engagement of key partners in the region to ensure that Singapore remains a relevant stakeholder.

9 We enjoy close and multi-faceted cooperation with Japan. We had several high-level visits in 2019, including President Halimah’s attendance of the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, and also PM Lee’s attendance of the G20 Summit. We look forward to maintaining the positive momentum of our exchanges this year. We will continue to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as infrastructure cooperation, smart cities, and population issues.  With the ROK, PM’s visit last November, in conjunction with the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, resulted in a number of good outcomes in smart cities, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and the expansion of Singapore-ROK air services.

10 Our relationship with India presents continuing opportunities for Singaporeans and our businesses. We are the largest foreign investor in India, and many of our local companies have expanded there. India has also one of the largest numbers of foreign companies in Singapore. With both countries making progress towards digitalisation, our cooperation is expanding to cover new frontiers such as innovation, the digital economy, and FinTech.

11 Australia is a like-minded partner for us. We are exploring new areas of cooperation to refresh our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).  Our defence ties with Australia are also longstanding. This year, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces’ training at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. To assist the Australian Defence Force’s efforts to combat the bushfires in Australia, we deployed two Chinooks to work alongside them for a month.

12 Singapore and the EU share strong ties, and are important economic partners. A major milestone was the signing of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), the EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement, as well as the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2018, and the EUSFTA’s entry into force in November 2019.  We will continue to deepen our engagement with the EU leadership, and also our ties with individual EU member states.  

13 We will also continue to engage the UK post-Brexit. We have many existing bilateral arrangements that will remain in force, and we are also working with the UK to ensure continuity by porting over the EUSFTA’s provisions through a Short Form Agreement. 

Conclusion

14 In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I would like to underscore that Singapore’s continued success hinges on many factors including maintaining a wide network of global partners and friends. We must continue to strengthen our ties with key partners, while expanding our global outreach.  

15 Mr. Chairman, I shall now turn the floor over to my colleague SPS Tan Wu Meng.

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