China's Foreign Minister, PM Lee 'affirm excellent state of relations'

Singapore

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong received China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Istana on Tuesday, and they reaffirmed the longstanding ties between their two countries.

In a Facebook post later in the day, Mr Lee said that they had a productive and candid discussion on international and regional developments.

"Despite challenging global circumstances in the pandemic, we have continued working closely, sharing resources and expertise to better manage the outbreak," he wrote.

"Singapore welcomes China's continued contribution in our part of the world, and will continue working with China to build a more harmonious and peaceful world," he added, signing off with emojis of the two countries' flags.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement that Mr Lee and Mr Wang affirmed the excellent state of relations between Singapore and China, and the positive momentum in both countries' cooperation amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

They also welcomed the 30th anniversary of Asean-China Dialogue Relations this year.

Mr Wang ended a two-day working visit to Singapore on Tuesday. On Monday he called on Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and met Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Singapore is the third stop in Mr Wang's tour of South-east Asia, which also included Vietnam and Cambodia. He will also visit South Korea after departing Singapore. THE STRAITS TIMES