On April 2, Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan was invited to have a phone call with Singaporean Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, and they exchanged ideas on jointly dealing with COVID-19 and deepening the economic and trade relationship between China and Singapore.

Zhong Shan noted that under the arrangements and command of President Xi Jinping in person, China’s epidemic prevention and control has continued to show progress, and businesses have picked up their pace to resume work and production. When China was experiencing the toughest time of the outbreak, the Singaporean government and all sectors of society had given China precious support which China deeply appreciates. At present, the epidemic is speeding up its spread over the whole world, and the world economy is facing downward pressure. This is a global challenge, and countries around the world should work together to cope with it by keeping their markets open, safeguarding the multilateral trading system and opposing protectionism. Upholding the philosophy of a community of a shared future for mankind, China would like to provide assistance within its capacity to Singapore and surrounding countries in their epidemic prevention and control. Both sides should strengthen communication, promote all parties to implement the fruits of the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit and the Extraordinary Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting, and keep the global industrial chain and supply chain stable, so as to inject new impetus into the global fight against the outbreak and stabilization of economy.

Chan Chun Sing expressed that he is inspired by China’s achievements in epidemic prevention and control, and would like to strengthen cooperation with China in epidemic prevention and control. Major cities in Singapore and China will function as double hubs to maintain personnel exchanges and unimpeded trade between the two countries and regions, actively provide financial support for countries in the region and help them resume production and economic vitality as soon as possible. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. It is hoped that while making joint efforts in overcoming the impacts of the epidemic, both sides will promote the Belt and Road construction and new land-sea corridor international cooperation, and work together to promote the signing of the RCEP agreements within this year, laying a good foundation for higher-level cooperation between China and Singapore in the next 30 years.

Zhong Shan stated that China and Singapore are close partners. China is willing to work together with Singapore, on the premise of ensuring epidemic control and safety, to promote personnel exchanges between the two sides, maintain smooth trade, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, promote new land-sea corridor construction, intensify economic and trade cooperation in key areas, and promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new level. The two sides will also work together to promote the signing of the RCEP agreement within this year as scheduled according to the consensus reached at the RCEP leaders’ meeting last year.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)