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Hu meets with Singaporean Minister Mentor

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-12 07:08

SINGAPORE: Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met here Wednesday with Singaporean Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and made a three-point proposal for enhancing bilateral ties.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during their meeting in Singapore, on Nov. 11, 2009. [Xinhua]

Hu, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon for a state visit to Singapore and for attending the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), said the Sino-Singaporean ties have maintained a sound momentum of development and have broad prospects.

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He said the development of the Suzhou Industrial Park has made great achievements and the Tianjin Eco-city project has also developed smoothly.

The effective implementation of the Sino-Singaporean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marked that bilateral economic and trade cooperation has entered a "closer, more mature new stage," said the Chinese president, adding that bilateral cooperation has brought tangible benefits to both peoples.

Hu spoke highly of Lee's important contribution to the development of the bilateral ties.

As next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, both China and Singapore should take advantage of this opportunity to tap the potential and wisdom to open a brighter future for the bilateral friendly cooperative ties, said Hu.

Hu made a three-point proposal for further developing the bilateral ties:

-- Maintaining close contacts between the leaders of the two countries, exchanging views and opinions on the basis of frankness, and pushing forward bilateral ties along the right direction;

-- Making full use of the roles of the Sino-Singaporean FTA and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, strengthening bilateral pragmatic cooperation in various areas, cultivating a new growth point for cooperation;

-- Maintaining closer people-to-people exchanges, cultural and knowledge exchanges, learning from each other and promoting economic and social development.

The Chinese president also briefed Lee about the great achievements China has made in the past 60 years, the past 30 years of reform and opening-up in particular.

China will adhere to the policy of reform and opening-up and strengthen friendly cooperation with other countries based on mutual benefit and win-win results, said the Chinese president.

Lee congratulated Hu on the great achievements China has made, saying China's maintaining stability and continuity in its development is of great significance for the region.

Singapore welcomes China to make greater economic achievements and is pleased to see China playing important roles in regional and international affairs, said Lee.

Enhancing the Singapore-China bilateral cooperation conforms to the common interests of both sides and Singapore will fully develop cooperation with China in various sectors, he added.

As China is one of the largest trade partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening ASEAN-China ties in an all-round way will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity of the whole region, said Lee.