Celebrating a milestone

THE recently concluded 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit hosted by Beijing has been hailed as a stellar showing of China's growing confidence and poise on the international stage. It is evident that China wishes to be an influential power rather than a dormant one, and it is quite clear that its strategy centres on collaboration rather than confrontation. Within the Asia-Pacific region, China - leveraging on its economic prowess - is now seen to be wielding more might in augmenting regional collaboration to effect ubiquitous growth and development. Recently announced measures such as the setting up of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank in which Singapore will be co-investing; and the Silk Road Infrastructure Fund, which will focus on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, can only be good news for Singapore.

With China determined to build up the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road network, Singapore stands to play a pivotal role as the hub for South-east Asia to connect China and Asean. The strong bilateral ties that Singapore and China enjoy would enable both countries to work closely together and actively promote trade and investments between China and the region.

Although formal diplomatic ties between Singapore and China were first established in 1990, Singapore and China relations go back a long way with century-old ancestral ties and cultural affiliations. Over the years, both countries deepened this relationship with growing trade volume, increased inter-governmental collaborations and regular high-level visits.