Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli Wednesday wrapped up an official visit to Singapore to further promote ties between China and the Southeast Asian nation. During his less-than-48-hour stay in the city state, Zhang and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean co-chaired the 12th meeting of China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, a high-level institutional mechanism established in 2003 to oversee the entire range of bilateral cooperation.
The two leaders also presided over the 17th China-Singapore Joint Steering Council Meeting for the Suzhou Industrial Park and the eighth China-Singapore Joint Steering Council Meeting for the Tianjin Eco-city. Both sides agreed to speed up the negotiations of a third intergovernmental project in West China so as to launch its construction at an early date. They also reached consensus on issues including the upgrading of a bilateral free trade agreement, economic transformation, financial cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchange as well as sustainable development.
The two countries signed four documents of cooperation, including the establishment of the China Cultural Center in Singapore. On Tuesday afternoon, Zhang met with Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Zhang is the first Chinese leader to visit Singapore in the wake of Singapore's general election.
The two countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties earlier this month. The Suzhou Industrial Park in east China's Jiangsu province and the Tianjin Eco-city in north China's port city of Tianjin are two flagship projects between the two governments to promote cooperation in high-tech industries and sustainable development.
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