China to enhance cooperation with Singapore ( 2003-11-19 21:31) (Xinhua)
Chinese President Hu Jintao
said Wednesday that China hopes to push forward exchanges and cooperation with
Singapore in all fields and raise relations to a higher level.
In a meeting with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Hu spoke
highly of Sino-Singaporean relations, saying ties have progressed continuously
and the two countries' leaders have maintained close contacts.
The two sides have respected and understood each other and exchanged views on
issues of common concern frequently, which has served to vitalize the
development of bilateral ties, Hu said.
China and Singapore have witnessed remarkable fruit from cooperation in the
economic and trade sectors, the Chinese president said, adding that the two
countries have consulted and coordinated well on regional and international
issues.
The establishment of a bilateral cooperation joint committee between China
and Singapore shows their ties have entered a new stage, Hu said.
Hu said he hopes the two countries bear in mind the spirit of equality,
mutual benefit, pragmatism and enterprise and make full use of the new
cooperation mechanism so as to guide and push forward bilateral ties.
Goh said Singapore attaches great importance to China's increasingly
important role in Asia and the world.
In recent years, he said, Singapore and China have conducted fruitful
cooperation in the high-tech industry, human resources development, China's
westward development plan and the strategy for Chinese enterprises to go abroad
to invest and run joint ventures.
The bilateral cooperation joint committee will help expand cooperation fields
and enrich cooperation content, the prime minister said.
Singapore is ready to cooperate with China even more closely, tap challenges
and overcome difficulties in a bid to help maintain peace, stability and
prosperity in Asia, Goh added.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was present on the occasion.
