Working Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to Beijing, the People's Republic of China, 24 to 26 May 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is currently on a working visit to Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, from 24 to 26 May 2026.

Minister Balakrishnan met and was hosted to lunch by Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. The Ministers affirmed our longstanding, multifaceted and substantive cooperation under the All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership. They agreed on the importance of maintaining regular high-level exchanges and strengthening bilateral cooperation in emerging areas, including the green and digital economies and supply chain resilience.

Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Wang also had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and international developments. Minister Balakrishnan welcomed China’s continued engagement of ASEAN, and the two Ministers looked forward to closer ASEAN-China cooperation. They also emphasised the importance of upholding free trade, rules-based multilateralism and the United Nations (UN) Charter.

Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Wang agreed on the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East. They emphasised the importance of the resumption of maritime traffic flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministers commended Pakistan’s efforts to stabilise the situation in the Middle East.

The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of international law, including the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN Charter, and the right to freedom of passage in international waterways. They agreed that all ships and aircraft should enjoy the right of unimpeded transit passage in Straits Used for International Navigation.

The Ministers also discussed cross-strait developments. Minister Balakrishnan reiterated that Singapore has a longstanding and consistent “One China” policy, and is opposed to Taiwan independence and any unilateral moves to change the status quo. Singapore will continue to support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. 

Minister Balakrishnan also met Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The Ministers reaffirmed the close friendship between Singapore and China across successive generations of leaders, and welcomed the regular government-to-government, people-to-people and party-to-party exchanges. These interactions play an important role in deepening the mutual trust and understanding between both countries.

Minister Balakrishnan will depart for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 26 May 2026.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 MAY 2026