MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, 2 to 3 May 2013

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi made an official visit to Singapore from 2 to 3 May 2013.  This is Minister Wang’s first overseas trip as Foreign Minister, which included several other Southeast Asian countries.  

Minister Wang called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 3 May 2013.  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam also met and hosted Minister Wang to a welcome lunch.

During their meetings with Minister Wang, our leaders affirmed the long-standing and excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and China, which are underpinned by strong economic linkages as well as regular exchanges at the political and people-to-people level.  Our leaders and Minister Wang also discussed ideas to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including areas such as financial services, social management and telecommunications.  Singapore looks forward to hosting the next Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation later this year.

Our leaders and Minister Wang had a good exchange of views on regional and global developments.  Both sides affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability so as to enable all countries in the region to continue to grow.  Minister Shanmugam and Minister Wang welcomed the preparations to mark the 10^th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership this year.  On the South China Sea issue, both sides agreed on the need for ASEAN and China to work actively on the way forward for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of consensus.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
3 MAY 2013