Lee and China’s Xi meet in Bangkok, reaffirm close ties
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SINGAPORE’S Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Thursday (Nov 17) evening in the Thai capital, where they reaffirmed the close and multi-faceted relationship between both countries.
The two leaders said Singapore and China have continued to strengthen cooperation, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic and evolving global challenges, said PM Lee’s press secretary Chang Li Lin following the meeting.
The leaders’ first in-person meeting in three years was also attended by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
At the meeting, Lee congratulated Xi on the successful conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), while Xi updated PM Lee on the Congress and his plans for China’s development.
The two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional and international developments, including on the importance of maintaining stable United States-China relations, added Chang.
Xi reiterated his invitation to PM Lee to visit China soon, and PM Lee also welcomed the Chinese President to visit Singapore again.
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The statesmen are in Bangkok to attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which takes place on Friday and Saturday. The pair arrived in Bangkok from Bali, Indonesia, where they had attended the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit.
The had last met in-person in April 2019 at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, and last spoke over the phone in October 2021 and discussed ways to jointly boost economic recovery.
Xi is holding a string of bilateral talks in November, on the sidelines of international summits in the region. He had earlier met US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Bali, among others.
Lee will meet Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee on Friday. THE STRAITS TIMES
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