On October 20, 2020, Zhong Shan, Chinese Minister of Commerce, and Josephine Teo, Singaporean Minister of Manpower and Second Minister of Home Affairs, co-chaired the second JWC meeting of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity via video links. The meeting was also joined by Li Bo, Vice Mayor of Chongqing, Tan Kiat How, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of National Development, and members to the Joint Working Committee.

Minister Zhong Shan noted that in their phone call last July, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long agreed on joint COVID-19 response and deepening Belt and Road cooperation. Under the personal guidance and instruction of President Xi, China has accomplished a strategic success in epidemic control and managed to bring economic and social order back to normal. After the epidemic struck, China and Singapore have supported each other with solidarity and worked together to keep regional supply chains and industrial chains smooth. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Singapore. The two sides should proactively implement the important agreement of the two leaders and advance the CCI and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor to upgrade cooperation and deepen the all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times.

Minister Zhong Shan noted that a lot has been achieved sine the CCI was launched five years ago. Whereas the world is mired in a recession caused by the spread of COVID-19, China is building a new development architecture with domestic cycle as the mainstay and with domestic and international development reinforcing each other. This will provide broad market space and development opportunities for Singapore and many other countries. China is ready to join hands with Singapore to move forward the CCI and the ILSTC, ensure sound planning and coordination, and complete the drafting of the CCI-ILSTC Cooperation Plan at an early date. The two sides should also create new platforms for cooperation and promote trade and investment through flexible and diversified channels; reinforce institutional building to guide and turbocharge collaborative projects; implement projects swiftly to steadily improve cooperation along regional industrial chains and supply chains; step up international cooperation to defend the multilateral trading system and promote global economic recovery.

Minister Teo noted that China’s efforts and achievements in fighting COVID-19 have been seen by all. Despite the challenges of the epidemic to bilateral commercial cooperation, the two sides have worked hand in hand and delivered new progress in CCI and ILSTC, which demonstrates the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries and the importance of connectivity to the region and world economy. The 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties and 5th anniversary of the CCI offer the two sides fresh opportunities to act earnestly on the instructions of the two leaders and take the cooperation projects to new heights.