Premier Li hopes for Singapore's constructive role in boosting China-ASEAN ties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is here to attend the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2017, also known as Summer Davos, in Dalian, coastal city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

DALIAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Tuesday that China hopes Singapore can play a constructive role in China's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Li made the remarks during a meeting with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is attending the Summer Davos Forum in the northeastern coastal city Dalian.

Li said China and Singapore have frequent high-level exchanges with the smooth development in practical cooperation, noting that the joint construction of a logistics center in Chongqing will strengthen regional connectivity.

China is willing to promote the negotiations on upgrading the Free Trade Area (FTA) between the two countries, as well as the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, so as to send the world a strong signal of safeguarding the free trade, he said.

On China-ASEAN relations, Li pointed out China always supports the ASEAN community and hopes Singapore, as a coordinator between China and ASEAN as well as the rotating president of ASEAN next year, will play a constructive role in promoting China-ASEAN ties.

For his part, Tharman Shanmugaratnam expressed his condolences for the victims in the recent landslide in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

He said Singapore stands ready to expand cooperation with China on important fields and promote the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN.