Xi meets Singaporean PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Monday.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, which presents a new opportunity for developing bilateral relations, Xi said.

By actively supporting and participating in jointly building the Belt and Road, Singapore has injected new momentum into the development of bilateral relations in the new era, and played an exemplary role in the high-quality and high-level joint building of the Belt and Road by participating countries, Xi added.

He called on both countries to maintain firm support for economic globalization and multilateralism, create greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, and promote economic integration in East Asia.

Lee said Singapore is willing to continue to be a partner of China's reform and development, and expects to see greater prosperity in China.

Proposing joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative reflects China's fulfillment of its due role in international affairs, he said.

Lee said Singapore is willing to continue deepening cooperation with China in areas including connectivity, investment, and finance under the Belt and Road framework, and jointly push forward regional economic integration and the development of ASEAN-China relations.