COOPERATION WITH SINGAPORE GROWS

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on June 12.

CHINA AND SINGAPORE CAN INCREASE COOPERATIONunder the Belt and Road Initiative via setting up platforms for connectivity, finance and third-party markets, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said June 12 while holding talks with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, who paid an official visit to China on June 11-12.

Wang hailed the sound development of bilateral ties with Singapore since the beginning of this year, and said the two countries need to continue to implement the consensus reached by both leaders and promote the "partnership of allround cooperation in keeping with the times." China welcomes Singapore's participation in Belt and Road construction.

Balakrishnan said the Belt and Road Initiative is of historic importance and Singapore has supported it from the very beginning as it connects Asia, Europe and Oceania and is set to bring prosperity to all along its route. Singapore could provide support to the financing of the initiative as it is a regional financial hub. Singapore will continue to forge ahead with three flagship projects with China in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing and further promote bilateral ties, Balakrishnan said, adding that the country is in agreement with China on the establishment of three platforms under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Balakrishnan said Singapore is willing to take on the opportunity to serve as a coordinator between ASEAN and China, and that when it becomes rotating ASEAN chair in 2018, it will advance cooperation in politics, economics, trade and culture so as to add new impetus to China-ASEAN ties.