As Singapore celebrates 35 years of diplomatic ties with the Chinese mainland, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is gearing up for his first official visit since taking office. In an exclusive interview with China Media Group, Wong outlined a three-point agenda: deepen leadership ties, reaffirm bilateral cooperation, and tackle regionwide and global challenges amid rising uncertainty.
He noted that partnership between Singapore and the Chinese mainland has evolved beyond classic infrastructure ventures. Flagship projects like Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City have matured into dynamic hubs for sustainability and digital transformation. Looking ahead, Singapore is keen to collaborate on low-carbon energy, green finance, and biomedical sciences.
Wong praised China's rapid urban transformation as 'nothing short of an economic miracle' and highlighted the resilience of its people. 'Their pragmatic, can-do spirit inspires our own approach to governance,' he told CMG, expressing confidence in the Chinese mainland's continued growth.
On the global stage, the prime minister offered a candid critique of rising protectionism. 'Widespread tariffs are not a sustainable solution,' he said, warning that unilateral measures risk destabilizing trade and harming smaller, open economies. Rather than abandon multilateral systems, Wong urged world leaders to reform and strengthen institutions to benefit all participants.
To that end, Singapore remains committed to reinforcing regional frameworks such as ASEAN, RCEP, and CPTPP. Wong also expressed full support for the Chinese mainland's accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and welcomed the conclusion of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 talks, aiming for a signing at October's ASEAN-China summit. At the upcoming World Economic Forum in Tianjin, he plans to call for renewed global cooperation and an openness-driven future.
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Singapore PM signals stronger bilateral ties ahead of China visit
cgtn.com
