Singapore Supports Peaceful Reunification of China: Singapore President

Singapore supports the peaceful reunification of China, Singapore President S.R. Nathan made the point in an interview with Chinese correspondents based in Singapore ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

"Let me underline this point," the president said, "From the time of our independence we have always held one position -- there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China."

He also noted that when China applied to re-enter the United Nations, Singapore voted for the PRC's restoration of its seat in the U.N. General Assembly.

"Since then we have maintained the same position, and that position has never been changed," the president said.

Singapore hopes to see that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can find a solution through peaceful negotiations for disputes and disagreements, the president said.

China's Fast Development Not Threat to ASEAN

China's rapid development is not a threat but a challenge to ASEAN, Singapore President S.R.Nathan said in the interview with Chinese correspondents ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The president said, "you have a Chinese phrase for crisis, 'in every danger, there are opportunities,' it is the same thing here.

Apprehension is natural, but it must not be concluded that it is a

threat."

There are reasons for such apprehension because most ASEAN countries have just experienced the financial crisis and are now facing an economic downturn, he said.

The president pointed out that the progress of Southeast Asia is important to China and China's progress is also important to ASEAN. He stressed that ASEAN and China "must find a way in which we can complement each other and take advantage from it."

Speaks Highly of Changes Taking Place in China

Nathan has said that great changes have taken place in China and one of the purposes of his upcoming visit to China is to see and appreciate the transformations there.

The president said that he has heard so much of the transformations that have been taking place in China over the last 20 years and he wants to go and see for himself and appreciate the changes there.

According to the president, he visited China in 1976 and subsequently only made one visit to Beijing for two days to attend a conference.

Although "I had very little chance to do any sightseeing, but what little I saw impressed me a great deal," he said.

China has moved away from original status of purely producing basic consumer commodities and Chinese companies are moving beyond China to various parts of the world, he added.

The president will pay a state visit to China from September 12 to September 22.








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