Chinese Vice-President Meets Singaporean Deputy PM

Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,and his delegation Friday.

Hu said that the two countries are good neighbors, and bilateral relations have been developing rapidly since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 10 years ago, adding that economic and trade cooperation has been fruitful.

Pointing to the fact that Singapore is the seventh largest trading partner with China and the fifth largest investor, he said that cooperation in the scientific, technological, educational and cultural areas bring about tangible benefits for both sides.

In addition, the two countries have also had increased cooperation in international affairs, he said, adding that a deep personal friendship and trust between the leaderships of the two countries has played an important role in promoting the smooth development of bilateral relations.

He said that such relations enjoy broad prospects, and enormous potentials exist for economic and trade cooperation between them, adding that new areas of cooperation, including finance, information and telecommunication, have also expanded.

He said he believes that through joint efforts, bilateral relations will achieve even more success in the 21st century.

Lee Hsien Loong said bilateral relations have been developing steadily since the forging of diplomatic ties a decade ago, adding that bilateral cooperation in the economic, trade, investment, cultural and tourism areas has increased.

The Suzhou Industrial Park, the largest cooperation project launched by the two countries, has made gratifying progress, he said. With the deepening of China's reform and opening-up drive, there is even more untapped potential to do more business.

Developing bilateral relations is in the interests of the people of the two countries, he said.

Hu also briefed the guests on the Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan issue.



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