Li Keqiang Meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

On November 11, 2022 local time, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is in Phnom Penh for the Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation.

Premier Li said that China and Singapore are close neighbors, and bilateral cooperation has been expanding, deepening, and producing fruitful results. China stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges and interactions at various levels with Singapore, deepen practical cooperation in key areas, and elevate the level of bilateral cooperation.

Premier Li noted that Singapore is an important country of foreign investment sources for China, and bilateral trade is expected to achieve a new breakthrough. He expressed the hope for the two sides to conclude at an early date the follow-up negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement, work together for the earnest implementation of the plan for building the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, make good progress in building the Tianjin Eco-City, create flagship projects of bilateral cooperation, earnestly keep the industrial and supply chains secure and unimpeded, and uphold peace and stability in the region and the world. China optimizes its COVID-19 response measures as the situation evolves, and stands ready to increase direct flights between China and Singapore step by step to better facilitate personnel exchanges between the two sides and provide convenience for Singaporean students to resume their studies in China.

Premier Li emphasized that China is ready to work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to further enhance mutual trust, advance economic integration in the region, and promote sustained and steady growth of China-ASEAN relations.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that despite great changes in regional and international situations, the friendship and cooperation between Singapore and China remain unchanged. Faced with the new circumstances, Singapore is ready to work with China to make good use of bilateral cooperation platforms, and deepen cooperation in free trade, digital economy, green development and other fields, so as to make new contributions to promoting stability and development in the region and the world. Singapore welcomes China's application to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, and supports China in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Xiao Jie was present at the meeting.