SINGAPORE, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said here on Thursday that global challenges in the future will focus on economic issues.

    According to Channel NewsAsia reports on Thursday night, Lee made the remarks while speaking at a Visa Payments Forum.

    Lee said that creating innovative products and providing good infrastructure are what will set countries apart in the next 20 years.

    "Who has the best technology, the best products, who commands the largest market share," he said.

    Lee spoke highly of China and India, saying that the rise of the two countries is inexorable in the next 20 years.

    In his opinion, India will not be able to move as fast as China because of its poor infrastructure and different languages. But once India allows private firms to build its roads and container ports, the country can transform its infrastructure in five years.