On Monday, 15 December, in Chongqing, the Chinese mainland and Singapore took major steps to strengthen partnerships across infrastructure, trade and technology. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong co-chaired four high-level cooperation councils, laying groundwork for deeper ties heading into 2026.
The meetings included the 21st session of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, the 26th Suzhou Industrial Park Steering Council, the 17th Tianjin Eco-City Steering Council and the ninth Chongqing Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Council. Together, they covered national-level projects and strategic planning.
Delegates exchanged in-depth views on high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, covering areas such as economy, trade, sustainable development, innovation, finance, public health, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Both sides agreed to align development strategies, identify shared interests, and leverage policy resources to upgrade major projects and cultivate new productive forces.
Leaders emphasised the importance of safeguarding the multilateral trading system to boost development and regional stability. Ding attributed the long-standing stability of relations to strategic guidance and mutual trust, calling for continued respect for each other's core interests. Gan reaffirmed Singapore's firm adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to Taiwan independence, and expressed willingness to enhance exchanges at all levels.
The two leaders then attended the launch ceremony of the Chongqing–Central Asia and Chongqing–Southeast Asia International Railway Express under the China-Singapore Multi-Modal Demonstration Project. This flagship rail link aims to boost regional connectivity by linking the Chinese mainland's inland hubs with markets across Central and Southeast Asia.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and travellers, this partnership signals fresh opportunities: from green tech collaborations and startup exchanges, to resilient trade corridors and cultural programmes that bridge borders.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
