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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 21, 2001

Li Ruihuan Meets Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew

Li said the start of the new century has witnessed a series of major and complex events that suprisingly happened against a profound backdrop and had significant impact on the development of all countries, various nations as well as the whole human civilization. These events have deep-rooted reasons, which should be observed carefully and analyzed in an in-depth way, and the resolution to them should be sought from the very origin.


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Li Ruihuan Meets Lee Kuan Yew
Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Monday met with Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

During their cordial and friendly conversation, they had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views. Li conveyed to Lee regards from Chinese leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and Zhu Rongji.

In-depth Analysis
On the current situation, Li said the start of the new century has witnessed a series of major and complex events that suprisingly happened against a profound backdrop and had significant impact on the development of all countries, various nations as well as the whole human civilization.

At present, he continued to say, the people are thinking of what new changes would come thereafter.


Li Ruihuan Meets Singaporean President
Lee said these events have deep-rooted reasons, which should be observed carefully and analyzed in an in-depth way, and the resolution to them should be sought from the very origin.

Human Capacity
Li pointed out that as a result of the fast pace of science and technology, the mankind's capability to realize, change and damage the nature is becoming greater and greater.

In such circumstances, how to keep self-discipline and how to utilize the vast human capability in a proper and rational way has become a major subject for mankind, he said.

Li noted that we should go beyond the limit of a country or a nation, collaborate with the overall human wisdom and think, in a comprehensive, deep and sober way, over the past and future of the mankind.


Li Ruihuan Meets Singaporean Prime Minister
He said the human development should have ups and downs, and finally mankind will overcome difficulties and proceed to the destination of a brighter civilization and progress.

General Mood of Society
In an earlier meeting with Singaporean President Nathan Monday, the CPPCC chairman said the frequent contacts and personal friendship between Chinese and Singaporean leaders are of special importance to the consolidation and development of relations between the two countries.

Talking about the general mood of society, Li said how to create a good atmosphere that caters to the economic development is a major subject that demands sincere research and down-to-earth endeavor.

Noting that general mood in a country is a major reflection of its level of civilization as well as its development prospect, Li said that, without a good mood of society, it is impossible for a country to achieve unity, stability and economic development.

Recalling that Deng Xiaoping said 10 years ago that Singapore's social order is among the best and serves as an example for China in this respect, Li said that Singapore has a clean and dedicated team of civil servants with high efficiency, which has played a significant role in its coordinated economic and social development.

Nathan asked Li to convey his best regards to Chinese President Jiang Zemin. On the bilateral relations between Singapore and China, the president said that Singapore attaches great importance to the overall exchanges with China, learn from and promote each other so as to seek common development.

WTO Entry Good for Whole
China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) brings both opportunity and challenge to the country, said China's top advisory body leader Li Ruihuan, in his Monday meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

He noted that the WTO entry is not only a good thing for China, but also a good thing for its neighbors and the world as a whole. Since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, China has enjoyed more than 20 years of healthy progress in both economic and social development, during which the Chinese people gained substantial experiences in doing business with friends from all over the world, while getting fairly well prepared for the forthcoming harsh international competitions in both economic and technological fields, Li said.

He noted that China's access to the WTO, which will help enhance the country's economic strength and accelerate its modernization drive, is a great boost to its endeavor to get into the mainstream of world economy. However, China is still in a backward state in terms of overall economic development, Li said, adding that the heavy burden of a huge population, insufficient fund for investment and relatively scarce natural resources should partly be blamed for the lag behind in some of the country's industrial sectors.

As a result of being isolated from the world community for a long time, many of the people's business concepts and ways of thinking are not in gear with international practices, which poses a great challenge to China when it becomes member of the biggest trade body in the world, said Li.

Reform and Opening-up
Li spoke highly of the smooth growth of the governmental and non-governmental ties between China and Singapore, when meeting with Tan Soo Khoon, speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Monday.

He said that after China adopted the reform and opening-up policy, it has achieved rapid economic progress. However, its overall level of development is still low and its growth still needs a long period of time, he said.

To feed and clothe a population of nearly 1.3 billion in China serves as a great contribution to the world stability, Li said.

Practice in the reform and open-up drive has proved and will go on to prove that the development of China will only benefit its neighbors and the world as a whole, instead of the contrary, Li noted.

Agreeing upon Li's viewpoint, the Singaporean speaker said his country is ready to promote a more comprehensive relationship of mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

Li Ruihuan arrived in Singapore Sunday on a five-day official goodwill visit to the island country, which is the last leg of his three-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which also included Fiji and PapuaNew Guinea. He will conclude his stay here on November 23.




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