Vice-President Hu Holds Talks with Singapore Prime Minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 26, 2002

Vice-President Hu Holds Talks with Singapore Prime Minister

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Visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao held talks with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong Friday in Singapore. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

In the two-hour meeting with Goh, Hu proposed greater cooperation in high technology, development of China's western region, China's efforts to exploit business opportunities worldwide and personnel training, the Singapore government said in a statement.

Goh "strongly supported these proposals", it added.

The Chinese vice president, who is here on a two-day official visit to the island state, said that Sino-Singaporean relations have enjoyed healthy development in recent years, with frequent exchange of visits between the two countries at all levels.

Singapore is China's top market for services exportation as well as the No. 1 amongst ASEAN nations in terms of trade volume and investment in China, he pointed out, noting the concrete benefits brought by their successful cooperation in the Suzhou Industrial Park Project.

He said that new opportunities for the two countries to further strengthen cooperation emerge as the global environment changes, adding that China and Singapore should vigorously explore new fields of cooperation to find new growth poles.

Since both China and Singapore have strongholds in hi-tech R&D and commercialization, he said, the two countries should further improve their mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as information technology, life sciences, new materials and micro-electronics.

Hu said that China's "go global" strategy offers good opportunities for Singapore to explore new area for cooperation with China, expressing the hope that Singapore would offer benefit to Chinese enterprises seeking business opportunities in Singapore.

He also stressed the importance of enhancing two-way exchange and cooperation in the area of human resources.

Goh Chok Tong agreed with Hu's proposal, while speaking highly of the development in Sino-Singaporean relations.

Regarding regional cooperation, he said that East Asian cooperation is receiving good momentum with the 10+3 cooperation having become the main channel for cooperation in the region.

He called on East Asian countries to strengthen cooperation in areas of trade, finance and social development so as to strengthen the competitiveness of each country and the region as a whole.

Goh Chok Tong said China's proposal to establish China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is of great importance and will benefit all countries of East Asia.

Hu expressed at the meeting China's appreciation for Singapore's adherence to the "one-China" policy and Goh expressed Singapore's readiness to continue to stick to such a policy.

Meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and foreign ministry officials were also on the agenda during Hu's official two-day visit.

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Vice-President Hu Starts Official Visit to Singapore

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