MFA Press Statement : Visit of Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to the People's Republic of China, 13 to 16 September 2013

Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong met Communist Party of China Politburo Standing Committee Member and Executive Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Beijing this morning.

ESM congratulated Executive Vice Premier Zhang on his appointment as a Politburo Standing Committee Member and Executive Vice Premier. Executive Vice Premier Zhang expressed his pleasure at meeting with his “old friend” ESM again in Beijing.

ESM and Executive Vice Premier Zhang noted the excellent relations between Singapore and China. They also reaffirmed the deep and broad bilateral cooperation. ESM welcomed Executive Vice Premier Zhang’s appointment as the Chinese co-chair of the Singapore-China Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) Joint Steering Committee, and the Tianjin Eco-City (TEC) Joint Steering Committee. ESM and Executive Vice Premier Zhang agreed on the importance of ensuring the continued success of existing bilateral flagship projects and mechanisms such as the SIP, the TEC, and other projects including the Guangzhou Knowledge City and the Jilin Food Zone. They also agreed that both countries should continue to explore new areas of cooperation in areas such as financial services and social management.

ESM shared with Executive Vice Premier Zhang his impressions of his visit to the TEC the day before. ESM and Executive Vice Premier Zhang acknowledged the progress and accomplishments of the TEC over the past 5 years. They agreed that the TEC is an important part of the broader bilateral relationship. The TEC should be developed into a successful model for sustainable development and urbanisation which can be replicated in other parts of China. Executive Vice Premier Zhang reaffirmed the Chinese leadership’s full political support for the TEC, and expressed confidence that the TEC will definitely be a success.

Executive Vice Premier Zhang briefed ESM on the current state of the Chinese economy and plans for the upcoming Third Plenum of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The leaders also exchanged views on the global economic situation.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
16 SEPTEMBER 2013