MFA Press Statement : Official Visit of Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of the People's Republic of China, 21 to 23 October 2013

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Gaoli is visiting Singapore from 21 to 23 October 2013 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean. DPM Teo hosted a welcome dinner for Vice Premier Zhang and his delegation on 21 October where both sides commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Singapore-China Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).

Vice Premier Zhang and DPM Teo co-chaired the 10th JCBC, 15th Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) Joint Steering Council (JSC) and 6th Tianjin Eco-city (TEC) JSC meetings on the morning of 22 October. Vice Premier Zhang also called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and was hosted to lunch by DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam and dinner by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

During the meetings, our leaders and Vice Premier Zhang affirmed the close and multi-faceted ties between Singapore and China. They endorsed the important role that the JCBC and major bilateral projects, including the SIP and TEC, play in deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation. The leaders also exchanged views on how Singapore can participate in China’s regional development strategies, and how both sides can share experiences on economic transformation and expand cooperation in existing and new areas such as modern services, financial services, human resource development, inclusive growth and sustainable development.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
22 OCTOBER 2013