Partnership between Singapore and China strengthened
The meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chinese President Xi Jinping, held on the sidelines of the Apec summit, was the first since May 2024, when Wong assumed his role. During the conversation, Wong highlighted the strong partnership between the two countries, which in 2023 was formally enhanced with an agreement that he described as a “future-oriented, high-quality comprehensive partnership”. He also underlined that bilateral relations continued with considerable positive momentum.
Economically, China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, while Singapore is the largest direct foreign investor in China. Both countries cooperate at a high level, as demonstrated by the recent meeting of the Joint Council on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which led to the announcement of 25 new agreements in key areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, trade, investment and finance. Wong expressed his desire to work with Xi to further deepen this cooperation.
Xi called Singapore a close and friendly partner, underlining that relations between the two countries are a global example of mutual and win-win development. The leaders agreed to intensify cooperation in innovative areas such as the green and digital economy. Additionally, they discussed regional and international issues, including Singapore’s commitment to upholding the multilateral trading system and its position on the “One China” policy.
