DPM Heng Swee Keat's Email Interview with Xinhua News Agency (Dec 2020)

Xinhua News Agency: 中新双边合作联合委员会（JCBC）第16次会议即将召开，您可否介绍一下本次会议的主要议程以及您对本次会议抱有哪些期待？
[Translation: The 16th JCBC is going to be held soon. Could you share the main agenda of the meeting and your expectations of it?]

DPM Heng Swee Keat: The Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) is our apex bilateral cooperation platform. The meeting is an opportunity for both Singapore and China to take stock of the progress made over the past year, and further cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.

The upcoming JCBC is an especially important and timely meeting. First, we are commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. Second, it takes place at a critical time for both countries, and the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect – more than 1.5 million lives have been lost so far, and many more livelihoods. The damage from COVID-19 will last for a considerable period of time. Countries must cooperate to rebuild their economies and support their peoples.

Even amidst the pandemic, both Singapore and China have kept up the positive momentum in our exchanges and cooperation. Our leaders have had several phone calls with their counterparts throughout the year. I have spoken with Vice Premier Han Zheng twice this year. Singapore also hosted Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Director Yang Jiechi in August and State Councilor & Foreign Minister Wang Yi in October. COVID-19 brought our two countries closer together as we exchanged experiences and supported each other with medical equipment and supplies to fight against the pandemic. The phrase “患难见真情” reflects this quite well.

Vice Premier Han and I have agreed to include public health cooperation as a new agenda item for this year’s JCBC. We will discuss ways to enhance healthcare cooperation, including on pandemic preparedness and response. We will explore collaboration on the development, production and distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19.  We will consider how to harness our membership of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Facilitation Council and the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility to ensure that the world has equitable access to vaccines.

Another important agenda item is rejuvenating our economies, including by enhancing our connectivity. We hope to safely restore connectivity, particularly air connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, as this will catalyse our economic recoveries.

The JCBC will also discuss cooperation on China’s regional development strategies, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the north, the Yangtze River Delta along the eastern coast, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in the south, and the development of the Western region. We will also commemorate some key milestones in our bilateral projects this year, such as the 5th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI), as well as the 10th anniversary of the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC).

I am pleased that both sides have put together a progressive and forward-looking agenda for the JCBC, building on our longstanding cooperation. I look forward to working with Vice Premier Han to further strengthen existing areas of cooperation, embark on new areas of collaboration to overcome the challenges in a post-COVID-19 world, and take Singapore-China relations forward for the next 30 years and beyond!

[翻译: 新中双边合作联合委员会（简称联委会）是新中两国最高级别的双边合作平台。两国可借此会议评估过去一年所取得的进展，并继续探讨如何加强双边合作以造福两国人民。

本届会议非常重要，也正合时宜。首先，今年是新中两国建交30周年。其次，本届会议在两国乃至全世界面临的一大关键时刻举行。2019冠状病毒疾病（COVID-19）疫情来势汹汹，至今已夺走超过150万条人命，生计受影响的人更是不计其数。冠病对全球造成的破坏还会持续很长一段时间。世界各国必须携手合作，以重振经济，帮助人民渡过难关。

尽管疫情蔓延，新中的交流与合作一直保持着强劲的势头。这一年来，两国领导人经常通电话保持联系。今年，我同中国国务院副总理韩正就通过两次电话。此外，新加坡在8月份也接待了到访的中央外事工作委员会办公室主任杨洁篪，在10月份也接待了国务委员兼外交部长王毅。所谓“患难见真情”，两国政府不但相互交流抗疫经验，也为彼此提供医疗器材和物资，在过程中拉近了彼此的距离。

我和韩正副总理已同意将公共卫生领域的合作纳入今年的联委会会议议程。我们将在会议上讨论如何加强医疗方面的合作，包括如何为大流行病做准备以及采取应对措施。我们也将探讨如何在研发、生产和分销冠病疫苗、诊断工具和疗法方面展开合作。新加坡和中国也会探讨如何以“获取COVID-19工具加速计划促进委员会”和“COVID-19疫苗全球获取机制”成员的身份，协助确保全球公平分配冠病疫苗。

另一项重要议题，是通过加强两国之间的联通和其他方式，重振两国经济。我们希望能安全地恢复两国之间的往来，尤其是增加两国之间的国际客运航班，和人民之间的交流互访，让两国经济更快复苏。

会议也将讨论两国在中国国内区域发展战略的合作，包括北部的京津冀地区、东部沿海的长江三角洲地区、南部的粤港澳大湾区以及西部地区的开发。今年，我们也将庆祝及纪念一些双边合作项目的重要里程碑，例如中新（重庆）战略性互联互通示范项目成立五周年，以及中新广州知识城成立十周年。

我很高兴看到双方在长期合作的基础上，为联委会制定了一个与时俱进和具前瞻性的议程。我期待与韩正副总理合作，进一步加强现有合作及开拓新合作领域，以克服后冠病时代所带来的挑战，并在未来30年和往后更长远的时间，带领新中关系迈步前进! ]

Xinhua News Agency: 今年也是中新建交30周年，两国关系经受住了包括新冠疫情冲击等各种考验，您如何评价30年来中新关系发展所取得的成就？
[Translation: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Singapore-China diplomatic relations, which have withstood various challenges including COVID-19. How do you evaluate the achievements in bilateral relations in the past 30 years?]

DPM Heng Swee Keat: Singapore and China established diplomatic relations 30 years ago in 1990, but the seeds of our friendship were planted more than a decade before that – during the exchange of visits between Mr Lee Kuan Yew to China in 1976 and Mr Deng Xiaoping to Singapore in 1978. Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, was also an economic advisor on Special Economic Zones to China’s top leadership from 1985 to 1990. He also played a special role in building up the foundation of the friendship between our two countries. The personal ties between successive generations of leaders and peoples have blossomed, and our cooperation has thrived in concert with our development. 

Our three Government-to-Government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing best embody the vitality of our relationship. They have evolved over the years, from industrial development to sustainable urbanisation and ubiquitous connectivity, and to newer areas such as the digital economy. They have brought generations of officials, businessmen and peoples together, creating a bond that underpins our deep and long friendship.

In the Yangtze River Delta region, the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) continues to break new ground. We have gone beyond industrial parks, to cooperation in emerging industries such as healthcare and biomedical services, and modern services. Both sides are also exploring how the SIP model and projects can be used in third party markets. The successful listing of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Development Group Co., Ltd (CSSD) attests to the commercial viability of this model.

In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, we are deepening our collaboration on the Tianjin Eco-City (TEC) and sharing the TEC’s development experience to other cities in China and countries along the Belt and Road.

The CCI is a key priority demonstration project for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Western Region Development and Yangtze River Economic Belt strategies, with the CCI-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC) serving as the bridge between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

In the GBA, the CSGKC can play a key role as an innovation hub in the region. The CSGKC Comprehensive Development Plan sets out our blueprint for its next stage of development. The Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative (SCI) is making good progress in connecting Southeast Asia and the GBA, through Singapore and Shenzhen.

In addition to these iconic projects, our eight provincial business councils with Guangdong, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, Tianjin, and Zhejiang continue to enable bilateral cooperation in accordance with the priorities of different Chinese provinces and municipalities.

Our cooperation with China extends far beyond Chinese borders. Singapore is happy to support the BRI by serving as a gateway for investment inflows and financial services for sustainable infrastructure development in Belt and Road countries. Last year, Chinese and Singapore banks jointly issued over US$2 billion in green bonds and loans in Singapore to finance Belt and Road projects. In addition, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the insurance industry co-created the BRI Insurance Consortium, which is administered by the Singapore branch of China Reinsurance Group, to provide specialised coverage for large and complex risks associated with BRI projects in Asia Pacific. Our agencies, courts and institutions have also worked together to provide professional legal and dispute resolution services for countries and companies which have embarked on projects under the BRI, including in arbitration and mediation.

Our people-to-people links have grown over the decades and expanded across all fronts – businesses, educational institutions, cultural organisations, non-governmental institutions and associations. More than four million people travelled between our countries in 2018 – a 40-fold increase from the 100,000 travellers in 1990. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to temporarily close our borders, we recognise the importance of resuming people-to-people flows to facilitate economic recovery. We launched a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) for essential business and official travel in June, and will make good and full use of the RGL to support economic recovery. We are also working to increase flight connectivity between our countries and are discussing ways to resume general travel in a safe and progressive manner. Notwithstanding COVID-19, the Asian Civilisations Museum travelled the Tang Shipwreck Collection to the Shanghai Museum for an exhibition from September 2020 to January 2021. This Collection is a tangible demonstration of the long-standing networks that connect China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, and is being showcased in China for the first time.

I believe our ability to maintain close communication and cooperation at the political, economic and people-to-people levels has led us to the strong relationship we share today. This is an achievement to celebrate as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Going forward, we must continue to keep up our cooperation, and grow our bilateral relations from strength to strength.

[翻译: 30年前，新加坡和中国在1990年正式建立外交关系。然而，早在建交的十多年以前，李光耀先生和邓小平先生已在1976年和1978年先后互访，为两国播下友谊的种子。时任新加坡副总理兼财政部长吴庆瑞博士也曾在1985年至1990年期间，担任中国经济特区的经济顾问。吴庆瑞博士在巩固两国友好关系的基础上扮演了特殊角色。这些年来，两国历代领导人与人民之间的情谊日益深厚，新中合作也随着彼此的发展开枝散叶。

两国在苏州、天津和重庆的三个政府间合作项目，是双边关系欣欣向荣的最佳体现。这些年来，合作的领域从工业发展扩大至可持续城市发展、互联互通，以及数码经济等较新的领域。这些合作项目，也拉近了两国历代政府官员、商界和人民的距离，为两国源远流长的深厚友谊打下稳固基础。

位于长江三角洲地区的中新苏州工业园区，继续开创新局面。新中双方不单在这里建设一座工业园，如今也在医疗保健、生物医药服务及现代服务等新兴领域展开合作。此外，双方也在探讨如何将园区的发展模式和项目推广到第三方市场。中新苏州工业园区开发集团股份有限公司的成功上市，也印证了这个模式的商业可行性。

在京津冀地区，我们正在深化天津生态城的发展合作，并与中国其他城市和“一带一路”沿线国家分享生态城的发展经验。

中新（重庆）战略性互联互通示范项目则是“一带一路”倡议、西部大开发和长江经济带等战略的重点示范项目。这个项目旗下的“国际陆海贸易新通道”，更是衔接“丝绸之路经济带”与“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的纽带。

另一方面，中新广州知识城可在粤港澳大湾区扮演创新枢纽的重要角色。《中新广州知识城总体发展规划（2020-2035）》也为下个发展阶段定下蓝图。新中（深圳）智慧城市倡议也通过新加坡和深圳这两座城市，加强东南亚与粤港澳大湾区的联系，并取得良好进展。

除了这些标志性的项目，新加坡同广东、江苏、辽宁、山东、上海、四川、天津和浙江所成立的八个省市经贸理事会，也让双方根据中国不同省市的发展重点，继续推动双边合作。

新中两国的合作跨越至中国境外。新加坡乐于支持“一带一路”倡议，并为沿线国家提供投资和金融服务渠道，协助这些国家展开可持续的基础设施建设。去年，两国的银行在新加坡联合发行和提供了超过20亿美元的绿色债券和贷款，支持“一带一路”项目融资。此外，新加坡金融管理局和保险业也联合成立了“一带一路”保险财团，由中国再保险集团新加坡分公司管理，为“一带一路”项目在亚太地区所可能面对的巨大和复杂风险，提供专项保险。两国的法律机构和法庭也携手合作，为参与“一带一路”项目的国家和企业提供专业法律和纠纷调解服务，包括仲裁和调停等。

两国的民间交流往来在过去数十年也变得更为广泛，其中包括企业、教育机构、文化组织、非政府机构，以及商会和社团之间的联系与互动。2018年，往返两国的旅客超过了400万人次，是1990年10万旅客人次的40倍。尽管冠病疫情迫使我们不得不暂时关闭边境，但我们都意识到恢复人员往来对经济复苏的重要性。今年6月，我们开启了快捷通道，恢复两国之间的必要商务和公务往来，以借此推动经济复苏。双方同时也致力增加往返航班次数，并商讨如何以安全的方式，逐步恢复一般旅游。尽管面对冠病疫情，亚洲文明博物馆仍在今年9月至明年1月间，将收藏的唐代沉船“黑石号”文物送往上海博物馆展出。这批文物是首次在中国亮相，而它们的存在证明，中国与东南亚以及世界各地在很早以前就有着密切的联系。

我相信新中牢固的双边关系，是我们这些年来不断在政治、经济和民间层面保持密切沟通与合作的成果。在两国庆祝建交30周年之际，我们应为取得这样的成就感到高兴。此后，我们更要继往开来，继续努力，让双边关系更上一层楼。]

Xinhua News Agency: 在中新两国关系进入新的发展阶段，您认为两国将如何在巩固现有合作基础上开拓新的合作领域？

[Translation: As China-Singapore relations are entering a new development stage, how do you think the two countries can explore new areas in cooperation on the foundation of consolidating existing cooperation?]

DPM Heng Swee Keat: I believe there is much potential for both sides to upgrade our longstanding and multi-faceted cooperation. China’s dual circulation strategy presents new opportunities for bilateral cooperation. As a regional trade, finance and logistics hub, Singapore can be a key partner in China’s “external circulation”, by facilitating the flow of goods, financing, investments and creation of partnerships between China and the rest of the world. I will highlight three areas: connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable development, which will be increasingly critical in the post-COVID world. 

It is vital that countries work together to emerge stronger from the crisis, notwithstanding pressures to roll back globalisation and reconfigure supply chains. A globally connected world will not only promote economic growth, but also mutual stability, as countries take a shared interest in one another’s success. Singapore and China share a commitment to global integration and free trade. Singapore supported China’s membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and I was happy to witness China’s entry into WTO in 2001. China’s bold step in entering the WTO has enabled China’s economy to take off in a significant way.

We can do more to enhance connectivity. For instance, we can promote the flow of goods through the CCI-ILSTC, which connects Southeast Asia and Western China through Singapore and Chongqing as mutual hubs. 

Beyond goods, we have steadily deepened our financial connectivity over the decades to support cross-border trade, financing and investment in each other’s markets. Singapore is the largest overseas investment destination for China along the BRI, with 25.8% of total investment outflow from China to Belt and Road countries in 2019. As China’s share of the global GDP grows, there will be greater use of the RMB for portfolio as well as direct investments into China. Today, Singapore is among the top three offshore RMB centres in the world. We should build on this, to deepen capital market linkages and financial flows.

We can also restore air connectivity, as people-to-people flows will catalyse economic recovery. Singapore and China can also work together with multilateral institutions such as the WTO, World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as well as under plurilateral frameworks like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to further deepen economic cooperation across the world.

Digital is the future. COVID-19 has accelerated digitalisation, and created new opportunities for innovation and enterprise. Singapore and China can work closely together to promote policy innovation to spur cooperation in the digital economy. The SCI can serve as a key pathfinder for digital collaborations. We can collaborate with Chongqing to fully digitalise the CCI-ILSTC route between China and Southeast Asia to further facilitate trade flows and financing. The International Dedicated Connectivity with Chongqing, launched last September, will also facilitate the flow of trade, services and information between Singapore, Western China and Southeast Asia. We can also do more to enhance the exchange of talent between our countries, including through the Global Innovation Alliance. 

Sustainable development remains crucial in the face of emergent global challenges such as climate change. We must deepen international partnerships and enable all segments of society to collaborate towards a sustainable future. The BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC), which Singapore co-chairs, provides a collaborative platform for governments, enterprises, research institutes and the civil society to promote a green Belt and Road. Singapore and China have a long history of learning from each other’s best practices, and there are many opportunities to continue doing so as Singapore and China place greater emphasis on resource conservation, environmental protection and low carbon development.

Apart from the three areas above, we must continuously learn from each other on other issues of common interest that were already in discussion before COVID-19, such as ageing population and food security. For instance, China has started to emphasise food security as an important foundation of national security, while Singapore has set a goal of producing 30 percent of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally by 2030. I have frequently discussed ways to manage the challenges of an aging population with my Chinese counterparts, and have shared with them how Singapore runs our Central Provident Fund system as China undertakes pension reforms.

We are always on the lookout for new areas of cooperation that are mutually beneficial, so that bilateral cooperation is dynamic and always progressing.

[翻译: 我相信双方在强化我们长久与多面向的合作上有着巨大潜能。中国提出的“双循环”经济策略，也为双边合作带来新契机。作为区域贸易、金融和物流枢纽，新加坡可通过促进中国与世界各地之间的货物、金融和投资往来以及伙伴关系，成为中国在“外循环”策略中的关键合作伙伴。我认为，互联互通、数码化和可持续发展这三大领域，对后冠病时代的合作尤为重要。

尽管我们正面对反全球化浪潮和供应链重组的压力，各国现在更迫切须要携手合作，才能走出危机。一个互联互通的世界不仅能促进经济增长，也能让各国保持稳定，创造互惠互利的共赢局面。新中两国都致力推动全球一体化和自由贸易。2001年，新加坡支持中国加入世界贸易组织，而我也有幸见证了中国入世的一刻。这大胆的一步，使中国的经济飞速发展。

至于加强互联互通，我们还可以做得更多。例如，两国可通过中新互联互通项目陆海新通道，借由新加坡和重庆这两个枢纽连接起东南亚和中国西部，以促进货物流通。

过去数十年来，我们也不断深化及加强金融互联互通，以支持双边市场的跨境贸易、融资与投资。新加坡也是中国在“一带一路”沿线最大的海外投资目的地。2019年，中国对新加坡的投资占中国对“一带一路”沿线国家总投资额的25.8%。随着中国国内生产总值（GDP）占世界经济总量的比重继续提升，人民币在证券投资和直接投资方面的使用量也会有所提高。如今，新加坡是全球三大离岸人民币中心之一。我们应该在这个基础上，加强资本市场联系和资金流动。

另一方面，鉴于恢复人员流动对促进经济复苏的重要性，我们也可探讨恢复往返航班。此外，新中两国也能与多边机构如世界贸易组织、世界银行、亚洲开发银行和亚洲基础设施投资银行等合作，或是通过区域全面经济伙伴关系协定等复边机制，进一步加深世界各国的经济合作。

未来的世界将是一个数码世界。冠病疫情不仅加快了数码化进程，也为创新和创业制造了新契机。新中两国可在政策创新方面密切配合，以推动数码经济合作，而新中（深圳）智慧城市倡议可为这类合作探路。我们可以与重庆合作，将中新互联互通项目陆海新通道的中国-东南亚路线全面数码化，以进一步促进贸易和金融往来。去年9月开通的中新（重庆）国际互联网数据专用通道，也将促进贸易、服务和信息在新加坡、中国西部和东南亚之间的流动。我们也可通过全球创新联盟等途径，进一步加强两国之间的人才交流。

面对气候变化等新出现的全球挑战，可持续发展依然至关重要。因此，我们必须深化国际伙伴关系，让社会各阶层携手打造可持续的未来。由新加坡担任联合主席的“一带一路”绿色发展国际联盟，为各国政府、企业、研究机构和公民社会提供推进绿色“一带一路”建设的合作平台。新中两国在很多年前便开始相互借鉴和学习彼此的最佳作业方式，而随着双方更加重视资源节约、环境保护和低碳发展，我们将有很多机会继续这么做。

除了以上所提到的三方面，新中两国也必须针对其他共同关注的课题不断相互学习。这包括我们在冠病疫情暴发前就已在讨论的课题，如人口老龄化及粮食安全等。例如，中国已将粮食安全视为国家安全的重要基础，而新加坡也定下在2030年以本地农产品满足国人三成营养需求的目标。我也曾在多个场合与中方领导人讨论如何应对人口老龄化的挑战，并在中国改革养老金制度之际，分享新加坡推行公积金制度的经验。

我们会一直寻找互惠互利的新合作领域，以不断地为新中双边合作注入活力和确保新中关系能与时并进。]

Xinhua News Agency:  新加坡作为东盟成员国，可以在中国-东盟关系的发展过程中发挥什么样的作用?
[Translation: As an ASEAN member, what role can Singapore play in the development of China-ASEAN relations? ]

DPM Heng Swee Keat:  I believe that a stable and prosperous China, which is well-integrated into the regional architecture, is good for Singapore, China and ASEAN. 

ASEAN-China trade and investment has grown steadily over the years. That ASEAN overtook the European Union and the United States to emerge as China’s largest trading partner for the first time in the first half of 2020 is testament to the potential of the economic partnership. To further deepen ties, Singapore, China, ASEAN Member States and other countries have worked closely to conclude and sign the RCEP Agreement at the 4th RCEP Summit in November this year after eight years of negotiations. Singapore will work closely with China and all RCEP countries to implement the RCEP Agreement in a timely manner to realise the benefits for our businesses and peoples. Singapore also welcomes China’s recently expressed interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

As ASEAN and China look forward to the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations next year, both sides can work together on a forward-looking agenda to tackle common challenges such as sustainable development, disaster management and the digital economy. Within this broader context, Singapore has been contributing to closer ASEAN-China ties. For instance, under Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018, the ASEAN Smart Cities Network was launched to foster partnerships and exchanges in smart urban solutions. Singapore has also supported ASEAN-China cooperation to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by upholding cross-border trade, open markets, and supply chain connectivity. Singapore’s RGL with China was China’s first arrangement with a Southeast Asian country to facilitate the resumption of essential business and official travel. Singapore is ready to work with China to further re-open to general international travel at the appropriate time. We have both successfully managed the COVID-19 situation, and are well-placed to open to each other. Such cooperation between Singapore and China can catalyse broader regional engagements and widen our horizons.

Singapore, as a Global-Asia Node of Technology, Innovation and Enterprise, can also be a springboard and sounding board for Chinese businesses seeking to understand and enter ASEAN markets. Singapore has established Infrastructure Asia (InfraAsia) to facilitate investments and partnerships in areas including infrastructure, energy and green finance. In 2019, InfraAsia facilitated a US$500 million China-Singapore Co-Investment Platform with China’s Silk Road Fund, focusing on infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia. Such initiatives demonstrate the potential for complementarity between both sides, and strengthen infrastructure development and connectivity across BRI countries. The CCI-ILSTC also offers opportunities for ASEAN and China to explore cooperation projects on connectivity under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. Singapore was also an early supporter of China’s AIIB and BRI, which Singapore sees as constructive initiatives for China to engage the region and beyond.

Singapore will continue to partner China in building bridges and strengthening regional linkages. The region we live in may be complex, but it is by embracing diverse cultures and identities that the bonds of our peoples are strengthened. At first glance, our differences may be apparent. But if we look closely, our region shares a lot of subtle similarities in our cultures, such as in our cuisines and so forth. We must continue to deepen our understanding of the region amidst the global uncertainty, celebrate diversity, and work together to build better lives for our peoples in Singapore, China and the region.

[翻译: 我相信，一个稳定与繁荣，并很好地融入区域体系的中国，对新加坡，中国和亚细安都是有利的。

这些年来，亚细安与中国的双边贸易和投资稳步发展。在今年的前三季度，亚细安首次超越欧盟和美国，成为中国最大的贸易伙伴，显示了亚细安与中国经济伙伴关系的潜力。为进一步深化关系，新加坡、中国、亚细安成员国与其他国家密切合作，经过八年的谈判之后，在今年11月举行的第四届区域全面经济伙伴关系协定峰会上签署了该协定。新加坡将与中国和其他签署国紧密合作，让协定早日生效，造福各国企业和人民。中国近日考虑加入跨太平洋伙伴全面进展协定，新加坡也对此表示欢迎。

明年是亚细安与中国建立对话伙伴关系的30周年，双方可借此契机一同推动具有前瞻性的议程，携手应对可持续发展、灾难管理和数码经济等共同挑战。在这么一个更广泛的框架下，新加坡一直都很积极为促进亚细安和中国的关系做出贡献。例如，新加坡在2018年担任亚细安轮值主席期间，亚细安启动了智慧城市网络计划，就制定智慧城市发展的良策方面，让成员国建立合作与交流。新加坡也支持亚细安与中国合作，确保跨境贸易和供应链的通畅无阻，以及保持市场开放，以缓解冠病疫情带来的冲击。我国也是首个同中国建立新中快捷通道、恢复必要商务和公务往来的东南亚国家。两国不仅成功控制国内的冠病疫情，也具备对彼此开放边境的条件。因此，新加坡已经做好准备，在适当的时候与中国进一步重启一般国际旅游。新加坡和中国的这类合作，可催生更广泛的区域合作，并协助我们拓宽视野。

作为全球和亚洲科技、创新和企业枢纽，新加坡也可充当中国企业的“探测板”和“跳板”，帮助它们了解和进军亚细安市场。为推进基础设施、能源和绿色金融等方面的投资与合作，新加坡设立了亚洲基础设施发展局。2019年，经该局倡议，中国丝路基金与新方合作成立中国-新加坡共同投资平台，未来将投入5亿美元资助东南亚的基础设施项目。这类合作体现了两国优势互补的潜力，也加强了“一带一路”沿线国家的互联互通和基础设施发展。此外，中新陆海新通道也为亚细安和中国在《亚细安互联互通总体规划2025》下，提供探讨互联互通合作的机会。新加坡很早便开始支持亚洲基础设施投资银行和“一带一路”倡议，并认为它们都是促进中国与区域内外互动的建设性举措。

新加坡将继续与中国携手搭桥牵线，加强区域国家之间的联系。本区域的风土民情虽然复杂多样，但我们包容彼此不同的文化和身份认同，各国人民的联系也因此而加强。乍看之下，区域各国的文化似乎截然不同，但只要仔细观察，就能发现许多细微的共同点，如我们的饮食文化。面对不明朗的全球环境，我们必须不断增进对彼此的认识，发挥我们的多元性优势，共同为新中两国乃至区域的人民建设更美好的未来。