Xi's visit to deepen mutually beneficial ties with Singapore, expert says

SINGAPORE - The relationship between China and Singapore is mutually beneficial, and Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to Singapore will definitely deepen their ties, an expert in Singapore has said.

The relations between China and Singapore have evolved to such an extent that it is time for both countries to focus on more strategic cooperation, not only in economy, but also in other areas, said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

China and Singapore forged diplomatic relations in 1990, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of formal ties. "Over the past years, I think the relationship between China and Singapore is extremely mutually beneficial," said Oh in an interview with Xinhua prior to Xi's state visit to Singapore on Friday and Saturday.

Trade and investment cooperation between China and Singapore is productive. Official Singaporean statistics show that China has been Singapore's top overseas investment destination for seven consecutive years, and its top trading partner in goods since 2013.

Meanwhile, figures on the first nine months this year from the Chinese side show that Singapore was China's second-largest direct overseas investment destination and third-largest trading partner in goods among all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"China has been learning a lot of modern management technics during its reform and opening up process from Singapore. And on the other hand, Singapore is also able to explore a huge consumer market in China," Oh noted.

Oh held the view that the intimate ties between China and Singapore can be demonstrated through their government-to-government projects on various themes during China's different developmental stages.

In 1994, China and Singapore jointly built the Suzhou Industrial Park shortly after the two countries established diplomatic relations, where Singapore shared lots of experience with China on industrialization.

In 2007, the two countries cooperated in developing the Tianjin Eco-City, with emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development.

Nowadays, China and Singapore have been jointly working on the third intergovernmental project centering on China's "Belt and Road" initiative, in particular the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. The current flagship project has been focused on inter-connectivity and modern logistics.

"I think the main theme of the third project between China and Singapore would be the opening up of various opportunities in the western part of China, to unlock the potentials," Oh said.

As Singapore has gained lots of experience in introducing Southeast Asia to the world, Oh expected that the third intergovernmental project between Singapore and China can also benefit from such experience and become a mutually beneficial one.

"With its experience in financial systems, as well as logistics supply and so on, Singapore is poised to play a very important role in building the 21st Maritime Silk Road, which will extend all the way to India and beyond, even the Middle East, and eastern part of Africa," said Oh.

As the financial center in Southeast Asia, Singapore can act as an intermediary for China to reach various markets. "Singapore has a lot of experience in having business with the Middle East, India and so on. And China could indeed make very good use of this expertise in advancing the 'Belt and Road' initiative," Oh stressed.

The intimate relations between China and Singapore not only benefit the two countries, but also the ASEAN members. Oh mentioned that he believed many other ASEAN countries are happy to see the relationship between China and Singapore go one step further.

"I think many other ASEAN countries would like to see that this sort of mutually beneficial relations could diffuse to other Southeast Asia countries as well," said Oh.

As cooperation between the two countries has sound basis, Oh expressed hope that China and Singapore can expand cooperation in other areas such as education.

He proposed that the two countries "deepen their exchanges in education especially between universities, for example, a joint China-Singapore university which stresses science and technology is set up and open for the rest of Southeast Asian countries."

"I think such projects could make these relations fruitful not only for the two countries but also for the region as well."