Beijing, 3 Mar (ZXS) -- Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, met with New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta in Beijing on 24 March.
Wang Yi said that although China and Singapore have different histories, cultures and social systems, they have always respected, appreciated and trusted each other, and bilateral relations have long been at the forefront of relations between China and developed Western countries. China appreciates Singapore's ability to view China's development objectively and amicably and pursue a pragmatic and positive China policy. We regard Singapore as an important partner and are confident in the certainty and stability of China-Singapore relations. The two sides should continue to carry forward the spirit of "striving to be the first", enhance mutual trust, achieve win-win results, inject a new era into bilateral relations, and push pragmatic cooperation to a new level.
Wang Yi stressed that the central task of China's new government is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the country to comprehensively promote Chinese-style modernization and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The modernization of China's population of more than 14.<> billion people as a whole will completely change the course of human development, which is a major event of far-reaching significance, which will bring new opportunities to all countries in the world, including New Zealand, and China-Singapore cooperation has great prospects. The two sides should make good use of the upgraded version of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, promote the quality and upgrading of economic and trade cooperation, jointly build a new growth engine, jointly maintain the stability and smoothness of the production and supply chain, and maintain a fair and open trade and investment environment.
Mahuta said that he is happy to see the grand goals set by China, and relations with China are very important to Singapore. Singapore looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges with China, deepening cooperation in various fields, creating more "firsts", and building more mature Singapore-China relations in the next 50 years.
The two sides exchanged views on South Pacific cooperation and believed that they should jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Wang Yi stressed that the most urgent task at the moment is to ceasefire and stop the war and resume peace talks, which is also the common aspiration of most countries and conforms to the common interests of the international community. We will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement. Mahuta said that peace and prosperity are the expectations of all parties, and Singapore stands in line with the spirit of international law and supports political settlement of disputes through dialogue. (End)