President Xi's visit to deepen all-round cooperation with Singapore: Chinese ambassador

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit will enhance mutual trust, expand cultural exchanges, and deepen all-round cooperation between China and Singapore, said the Chinese ambassador.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Ambassador Chen Xiaodong highlighted four points of Xi's tour - important timing of visit, intimate contacts between leaders of the two countries and fruitful achievements as well as warm and unique cultural atmosphere.

The Nov. 6-7 visit is the first to Singapore since Xi became the Chinese president in 2013, and it is also the first state visit hosted by Singapore after the Sept. 11 election, said Chen.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of China-Singapore diplomatic ties, and also Singapore's golden jubilee.

Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam visited China in early July. It is the first time that leaders of the two countries exchanged visits during the same year.

The upcoming visit will be a meeting between "old friends," as President Xi has met with Singapore's President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong a few times, said Ambassador Chen.

Xi will meet with President Tan and PM Lee respectively, and he will also attend a state banquet hosted by President Tan. Besides, PM Lee and his wife will have a private lunch with President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan.

"I think these intimate contacts will certainly enhance friendship between leaders of the two countries," said Chen.

China and Singapore are expected to sign a series of agreements during Xi's visit, which will highlight the latest consensus and achievements between the two countries.

The China-Singapore cooperation has always been forward-looking and pace-setting, as the two countries will redefine their relations to keep abreast of the times and expand to various areas, said Chen.

"China and Singapore will also announce the third government-to-government project besides the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-city during Xi's visit," Chen said.

The new inter-governmental project will be located in western China, and focused on inter-connectivity and modern service industry, as China has come up with the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Leaders of the two countries will jointly promote the upgrading of a bilateral free trade agreement, and map out a guideline for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Maritime Silk Road.

In addition, China and Singapore will sign an array of cooperation agreements on education, customs, finance and urban governance.

President Xi and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will also inaugurate a China Cultural Center in Singapore, and Xi will deliver a speech on China-Singapore, China-ASEAN relations as well as the regional situation.

According to the ambassador, an orchid, Singapore's national flower, will be named after President Xi and his wife in honor of the friendship between the two countries.

President Xi's upcoming visit will inject an impetus to and open a new chapter for China-Singapore relations, he said. Endit