China-Singapore cooperation on Belt and Road Initiative yields concrete results: Chinese ambassador

SINGAPORE - The cooperation between China and Singapore on the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded concrete results, the newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Hong Xiaoyong said on Thursday.

Hong made the remarks upon his arrival in Singapore Thursday night.

He said the China-Singapore bilateral relations have entered a new stage of even greater growth, compared with his last posting in Singapore as a diplomat 10 years ago.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity is moving ahead smoothly, the building of the Southern Transport Corridor is gradually realizing the goal of connecting the Belt with the Road, and the two sides are also jointly expanding cooperation in third countries, he said.

"All these have demonstrated our shared commitment to our peoples and to the region," he said.

For the past five years in a row, China has remained Singapore's largest trading partner and Singapore as China's top foreign investor, Hong noted.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, and it was 40 years ago that China and Singapore took the historically significant step of substantial cooperation, he said, adding that the past 40 years is the best witness of the China-Singapore relationship that is strong, dynamic and ever-growing.

Hong is the 11th Chinese ambassador to Singapore. He is scheduled to present his credentials to Singapore's President Halimah Yacob at the end of March.