Xi calls for joint efforts with S’pore on post-virus challenges

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a commemorative meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 9, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China and Singapore should work jointly to address the new task of post-pandemic development.

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During his phone conversation with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Xi said that the current socio-economic development of both countries and the bilateral relations are standing at a new starting point in history.

Both sides should set store by the well-being of the two peoples as well as the prosperity and development of the region, and jointly address the new task of post-pandemic development so as to continue offering the people satisfactory results, Xi said.

China welcomes the Singaporean side to get deeply involved in China's process of fostering a new development pattern, so as to continuously lift the quality and level of bilateral cooperation, Xi said

As close neighbors and partners, China and Singapore understand and trust each other politically, advance with the times in cooperation, and learn from each other through exchanges, Xi said.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have helped each other and taken on the challenge in solidarity, and have pushed forward bilateral cooperation against the odds, which has demonstrated the vitality and resilience of China-Singapore relations, he noted.

China, he added, is ready to work with Singapore to keep high-level exchanges and strategic communication, strengthen joint prevention and control, resume personnel exchanges in a prudent and orderly manner, deepen cooperation in such fields as research and development of vaccines and drugs, and nurture new pacesetters of cooperation in digital economy and green sustainable development among other areas.

China welcomes the Singaporean side to get deeply involved in China's process of fostering a new development pattern, so as to continuously lift the quality and level of bilateral cooperation, he said.

Meanwhile, Xi stressed that against the backdrop of profound changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century, the international community, especially developing countries, are facing multiple challenges.

China and Singapore have common ideas and shared interests on the major issue of safeguarding multilateralism and achieving common development, he noted.

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China, he said, is willing to work with Singapore to strengthen multilateral cooperation, build a global community of development with a shared future, and enable the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to take effect as scheduled, so as to inject impetus into regional and even global economic recovery.

Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said China is ready to work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to push forward the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.