China's new Foreign Minister Wang Yi calling on Mr Lee Kuan Yew and PM Lee. He also called on DPM Teo and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam. (Photo ST).
China’s new Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Singapore’s leaders yesterday (3 May), with the two sides affirming longstanding and excellent bilateral ties between Singapore and China.
Mr Wang has made Southeast Asia his first overseas destination since his new appointment. Asian destinations were given first priority by the newly-appointed foreign minister. His visits include ASEAN member states Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.
Here in Singapore on a 2-day visit, Mr Wang called on PM Lee Hsien Loong, DPM Teo Chee Hean as well as his counterpart Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam.
MFA, in a statement, said that both sides affirmed the long-standing and excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and China. They also discussed ideas to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including areas such as financial services, social management and telecommunications.
Both sides also affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability so as to enable all countries in the region to continue to grow. On the South China Sea issue, both sides agreed on the need for ASEAN and China to work actively on the way forward for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of consensus.
Analysts have suggested that Southeast Asia was prioritized as part of the new foreign policy goals set during China’s 18th Party Congress held last November in a bid to settle border disputes and simmering tensions over claims in the South China Sea.
Interestingly, Mr Wang also paid respect and met former Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, even though he is only an ordinary MP currently not holding any Cabinet position. It’s not known under what diplomatic protocol is Mr Lee Kuan Yew meeting the Foreign Minister of China. It is also not known the significance of Mr Wang meeting him, who is only an MP and whose Meet-the-People-Session is conducted by his fellow MP, Ms Indranee Rajah on his behalf [Link].
TR Emeritus
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