MFA Press Statement: Meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng, 29 June 2018

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean met Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng on 29 June 2018 in Beijing.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Vice Premier Han reaffirmed the longstanding, strong and substantive relations between our two countries.  They had a broad discussion on our extensive bilateral cooperation, including the good progress made by our three Government-to-Government projects namely, the Sino-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI).  

Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Vice Premier Han welcomed the positive momentum of our cooperation under the Belt & Road Initiative, especially through the development of the CCI-Southern Transport Corridor which has enhanced the connectivity between Western China, Singapore and beyond, through linking the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road and providing Western China with direct access to the sea.  The two leaders agreed that there is scope for both sides to learn from each other and exchange views on our respective developmental experiences.  They looked forward to the conclusion of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement upgrade this year and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as soon as possible, which will send a strong signal of our joint commitment to free trade. 

Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Vice Premier Han exchanged views on regional developments, including Sino-US relations and ASEAN-China relations.  Deputy Prime Minister Teo welcomed Vice Premier Han’s appointment as Chinese Co-Chair of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).  They reaffirmed the JCBC as a key platform to guide the future direction of bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders said that they looked forward to the 14^th JCBC in Singapore in September this year. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

29 JUNE 2018

DPM Teo met PRC Vice Premier Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 29 June 2018 (photo credit: MCI)