DPM Heng Swee Keat's Op-Ed for the 18th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation

Read DPM Heng Swee Keat's commentary in Chinese below.

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Strengthening Recovery, Reinvigorating Cooperation, and Expanding Collaboration into the Region

Singapore and China enjoy a long-standing partnership, anchored on the strong ties between our peoples and successive generations of leaders. Tomorrow, we will welcome PRC Vice Premier Han Zheng to Singapore for the 18th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which is the annual apex bilateral forum between our two countries. Vice Premier Han is the most senior Chinese leader to visit Singapore since the outbreak of COVID-19. His visit is an opportunity for our countries to take stock of our bilateral cooperation and chart the course for building a more prosperous future for our peoples in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Recovery

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore and China have continued to deepen bilateral cooperation, including helping each other fight the virus early in the crisis and deepening collaborations in public health. The last two editions of the JCBC were held virtually. Vice Premier Han’s visit to Singapore is a significant milestone, as we look to progressively resume in-person engagements. To do so, we will need a gradual and safe resumption of flights to pre-pandemic levels. We have made some progress on this front, with an increase in weekly flights between our countries in recent months. Even as we manage the effects of the ongoing pandemic in our respective societies, we must continue to work together to boost people-to-people exchanges, which will contribute to our recovery and growth.

Reinvigorate

Looking beyond recovery from the pandemic, we should also reinvigorate our cooperation to build a better future for our peoples. With changes taking place worldwide at an unprecedented pace, our ability to adapt and innovate how we collaborate will enable us to ride the waves of change with confidence.

Government-to-Government

Take for instance our first Government-to-Government project – the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). Started in 1994, the first product manufactured in the SIP was hearing aids. This was followed by decades of innovative collaboration, as the SIP continues to reinvent itself with each industrial wave. Today, the SIP is a successful model known for its high degree of innovation. 

Digital and Sustainability

Beyond the traditional areas of cooperation, we continue to embark on new areas of collaboration. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Xi Jinping had agreed in October 2021 to strengthen collaboration in emerging areas such as the digital economy and green economy. Since then, our officials have been working closely to advance cooperation in these new growth areas.

Digital

In the digital domain, the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative has opened new possibilities in digital cooperation and policy innovation. We successfully piloted the use of electronic bills of lading with companies in Shenzhen and are working to recognise our respective digital identities to facilitate cross-border travel and payments. The China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City is also a testbed for smart urban solutions and digital-enabled technology. In addition, the ongoing digitalisation of trade clearances between our two countries will allow for a more seamless flow of physical goods within the region.

Sustainability

Singapore and China’s collaboration on sustainability was ahead of its time. The Tianjin Eco-City project was launched in 2008, at a time when climate change was not yet at the forefront of the global agenda. Today, there are more than 130,000 people living and working in the Eco-City, and over 23,000 registered companies. The Eco-City has served as a pathfinder for both countries in different aspects of sustainable growth. As we celebrate the Eco-City’s 15th anniversary next year, it is timely for us to refresh its strategies. Beyond the Eco-City, our cooperation on sustainability is gathering pace, including in promoting green finance and deepening green development cooperation.

Progressing with the times

Our bilateral cooperation continues to progress with the times.  When the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, we embarked on pandemic preparedness as a new area of cooperation. This continues to be a critical partnership, as the next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when. As our bilateral relationship progresses, additional areas of cooperation will emerge. At the upcoming JCBC, Vice Premier Han and I will be discussing how we can reinvigorate cooperation. We will also be witnessing the launch of many new initiatives that will further advance our bilateral partnership.

Region

The deepening partnership between Singapore and China will also contribute to building a better future for the region and the world. The foundations and prospects for regional cooperation are strong, especially with the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established last year. Singapore and China are also part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which connects ASEAN’s economies with its major trading partners and came into force earlier this year. In addition to implementing these arrangements well, we must also proactively realise the potential of these regional networks.

One way to do so is to build upon the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative – New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC), which is a key component of Singapore’s third and latest Government-to-Government project with China.  It offers a shorter and more direct multi-modal route which reduces the time needed to transport goods between Western China and Southeast Asia from three weeks to one. During the pandemic, this became an alternative to traditional trade routes. In the first half of this year, there was a 30% year-on-year increase in cargo flows. We are now working with China to implement the CCI-ILSTC Cooperation Plan, a developmental framework for the Corridor. Through these joint efforts, and by strengthening both traditional and modern dimensions of connectivity, we can positively impact the development of the region.

We can also work closely on third party projects, through platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative. The development needs and potential of Southeast Asia are large. If the region continues to attract investments from around the world and make reforms, it is on track to become the 4th largest economy in the world by 2030, with a market of over 600 million people.  By bringing together the expertise and resources of Singapore and China, we can contribute to realising this potential.

Conclusion

This year’s JCBC takes place at a crucial moment for our countries and the world. For China, the recently concluded 20th Party Congress heralds an important new chapter for the country and lays out the blueprint for China’s development in the coming years. Singapore looks forward to partnering China to strengthen recovery from the pandemic, reinvigorate our bilateral cooperation to seize new opportunities, and work with other countries to overcome common challenges and build a better future for the region and the world.  

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新中关系的新动力、新动向、新领域

新加坡和中国拥有长期的伙伴关系，而这种关系是以两国人民和 历任领导人的牢固关系为基础。明天，中国国务院副总理韩正将到我国出席新中双边合作联合委员会（Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, 简称JCBC）第18届会议。这是新中两国一年一度最高层级的双边合作机制。韩副总理也是自冠病疫情暴发以来到访我国的中国最高级别领导人。新中两国可以借此契机评估现有的双边合作。此次会议也让双方能够在日益变幻莫测的全球环境中，共同制定方向，为两国人民打造更繁荣的未来。

促进交流协助经济复苏

即使在冠病肆虐期间，新中两国也继续深化双边合作,包括在刚开始的阶段协助彼此对抗疫情，以及加深公共卫生方面的协作。过去两届的JCBC会议，都是在线上召开。韩副总理此次到访新加坡，是新中两国逐步恢复面对面交流和人员往来重要里程碑。为此，我们需要以循序渐进和安全的方式，将两国之间的航空联系恢复到疫情前的状态。目前，我们已在这方面取得了一些进展。近几个月，每周往返两国的航班数量已有所增加。在缓解冠病疫情对国内社会的影响之际，我们也必须持续携手促进民间交流，因为这将有助两国经济复苏并取得增长。 

重振经济合作关系

除了实现疫后复苏，我们也要把眼光放得更长远，重振双边合作关系，为我们的人民打造更光明的未来。世界正经历着许多改变，而改变的速度也是前所未有的。因此，我们必须懂得灵活应变，并以创新的方式合作。这样我们才能在变革的浪潮中砥砺前进。

政府间的合作

以新中两国的第一个政府间合作项目为例，也就是1994年两国共同开发的苏州工业园区。该园区所生产的第一个产品是助听器。在接下来的数十年，我们在合作过程中不断创新，苏州工业园区也在每一轮的产业变革中不断自我更新。今天，该园区是一个以高度创新著称的成功典范。

数码和永续发展

除了在传统领域保持合作，新中两国更继续在新领域展开合作。李显龙总理和中国国家主席习近平在2021年10月达成共识，将在数码经济和绿色经济等新兴领域加强合作。此后，两国官员一直在这些崭新的增长领域密切推进合作。   

数码合作

在数码领域方面，新中（深圳）智慧城市倡议为数码合作和政策创新创造了新的可能性。我们成功让深圳的企业试用电子提单，也正在合作建立两国都认可的数码身份认证系统，以让跨境旅游和付款更加便利。另一方面，中新广州知识城也是智慧城市方案及数码化技术的试验田。此外，两国正在合作，把贸易通关程序数码化，让区域内的跨境货物流动变得更加顺畅。   

永续发展

在永续发展领域方面，新加坡和中国的合作可谓走在时代前端。早在应对气候变化还未成为全球首要关注的议题之前，新中两国就已经于2008年联手打造了天津生态城。如今，超过13万人在天津生态城居住和工作，在那里落户的公司也超过2万3000家。天津生态城为两国探索永续增长的各方面提供了指引。明年适逢天津生态城开发15周年，正是两国更新其发展策略的好时机。除了天津生态城，新中两国也在提倡绿色金融和深化绿色发展等永续发展领域，加快合作步伐。

与时俱进

新中双边合作也不断推陈出新，与时俱进。当冠病疫情刚暴发时，如何应对大流行病成为了我们新的合作领域。接下来，这方面的合作依然十分关键，因为我们必然会再度面对大流行病，只是不知道它何时会出现。随着我们的双边关系不断发展，新中两国必将开拓更多新的合作领域。在即将举行的JCBC会议上，我将和韩副总理讨论如何重振双边合作。我们也将见证一系列新项目的诞生，进一步加强新中双边伙伴关系。         

放眼区域

新中两国不断深化的伙伴关系，将有助本区域乃至全世界创造更美好的未来。亚细安和中国在去年建立的全面战略伙伴关系，就为区域合作奠定了坚实的基础。新加坡和中国是今年初正式生效的《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》的其中两个成员国，而该协定旨在增进亚细安经济体与主要贸易伙伴的联系。除了落实好这些合作协议，我们也必须积极发挥这些区域网络的潜能。       

其中一个方法，就是巩固中新（重庆）战略性互联互通示范项目旗下的国际陆海贸易新通道。这个贸易通道是两国的第三个、也是最新的政府间合作项目的重点之一，能提供更快、更直接的多式联运路线，把中国西部与东南亚之间的货物运输时间从三周缩短至一周。疫情期间，这个贸易通道成为了传统贸易路线以外的另一个选择，今年上半年的货运量就比2021年同期增长了30%。新加坡也正同中方合作落实有关合作计划，为国际陆海贸易新通道的发展制定框架。通过我们的携手努力，以及加强传统和现代的互联互通模式，我们能够加快区域的发展步伐。

我们也可以通过“一带一路”倡议等平台，在第三方项目上展开密切合作。东南亚有很大的发展需求和增长潜力。如果这个区域继续吸引来自世界各地的外资并进行改革，这个拥有超过6亿人口的市场有望于2030年或更早成为全球第四大经济体。通过集合新中两国的专长和资源，我们一定可以让东南亚充分发挥庞大的潜力。   

总结

今年会议的召开时间，对新中两国乃至全球都十分关键。对中国来说，刚落幕的中共第二十次全国代表大会，为中国掀开了重要的新篇章，也勾画了未来几年的发展蓝图。新加坡期待与中国携手合作，加强疫后复苏的工作，重振双方合作关系，掌握新的机遇。我们也将一起同其他国家合作，克服共同挑战，为本区域乃至全世界创建更美好的未来。