Beijing, 4 Apr (Xinhua) -- On the morning of 1 April, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council held talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong is an old friend of the Chinese and one of the first foreign leaders I received after I became Premier of the State Council, which fully demonstrates the great importance that China and Singapore attach to bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mr. Xi Jinping had a comprehensive exchange of views on the development of China-New Zealand relations in the new era, and clarified the new positioning of China-Singapore "all-round high-quality forward-looking partnership". China is willing to work with Singapore to build "high quality" into the most distinctive symbol of China-Singapore cooperation, push China-Singapore relations and pragmatic cooperation to a new height, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and inject more positive energy into regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Li Qiang pointed out that China and Singapore should enhance the "overall leadership" of cooperation, give full play to the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms at the level of vice premier, and take the opportunity of substantive completion of the follow-up negotiations on the upgrading of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement to promote a higher level of two-way openness and higher standards of economic, trade and investment policies between the two countries. It is necessary to enhance the "innovation driving force" of cooperation, tap new potential for cooperation in the fields of digital economy, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce, and build a "full-chain" cooperation model of talent training and exchange, science and technology business incubation, joint research and development, and industrial landing, so as to help the important cooperation projects of the two countries improve their quality and upgrade. It is necessary to enhance the "demonstration driving force" of cooperation, enhance the role of regional production and supply chain hubs in the new land-sea channel, and build an international platform with bilateral cooperation between China and Singapore to provide more assistance to the economic recovery of regional countries. China is willing to continue to deepen cooperation with Singapore in education, cultural tourism, public health and other fields, and promote personnel exchanges between the two countries to return to normal as soon as possible.

Li Qiang said that China has always regarded ASEAN as a priority direction of its peripheral diplomacy, firmly supports ASEAN's centrality, and is willing to work with ASEAN countries, including Singapore, to focus on development and cooperation, actively promote the construction of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0, promote regional economic integration, and build a closer community of common destiny. China and Singapore have always been staunch defenders of economic globalization and multilateralism, and China is willing to work with Singapore to resist attempts to politicize and securitize economic issues, work together to maintain the stability and smoothness of the international industrial chain and supply chain, and safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.

Lee Hsien Loong said that the friendly cooperation between Singapore and China is very extensive and deep, and the two countries have deep mutual trust. Singapore-China "all-round and high-quality forward-looking partnership" not only reflects the essence of Singapore-China cooperation, but also reflects the benefits brought to the two peoples, and points out the strategic direction for the development of bilateral relations. Singapore is willing to work with China to make full use of the bilateral cooperation mechanism at the level of vice premier, expand cooperation in finance, digital economy, green development, food security, sustainable urban development and other fields, deepen the docking of the new land-sea corridor with the "Belt and Road" initiative, close people-to-people exchanges, create a model for bilateral and regional cooperation, and promote bilateral relations to continue to keep pace with the times and reach a new level. China is one of ASEAN's deepest and most substantial partners, and ASEAN countries support the development of relations with China, hoping to seize the opportunity of China's post-epidemic economic recovery and continued expansion of opening up to increase cooperation with China. Singapore welcomes and supports China's efforts to accede to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly uphold WTO rules and safeguard a fair, open and inclusive international trading system.

After the talks, Li Qiang and Lee Hsien Loong witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in economy and trade, science and technology, food, law, environmental protection, art and other fields.

Before the talks, Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for Lee Hsien Loong in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Qin Gang and others participated in the above activities.

During Lee Hsien Loong's visit to China, China and Singapore issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Singapore on Establishing an All-round, High-Quality and Forward-looking Partnership.