Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Thursday that both China and the United States will come through the present economic crisis, and China is closing in on the lead the United States enjoys.
Speaking at a lecture organized by Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy, Lee said that the current crisis will hasten China's growth and the United States may suffer negative or low growth, but he added that American resilience and creativity should never be underestimated.
He said that China's great advantage is not in their military influence but in their economic influence, adding that China's soft power lies in the manpower and the capability to do things cheaper and faster than anyone else.
"Economically, their influence can only grow and grow beyond the capabilities of America." Lee said.
Talking about U.S.-China relations, Lee said that the relationship between China and the United States has already become the most important geopolitical issue of this century.
He said U.S.-China relations are setting the framework for East Asia. Both countries realize that they need to work with the other. Neither wants conflicts.
"In the later 21st century, U.S.-China relations will become the most important bilateral relationship in the world." Lee said.
Source: Xinhua
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