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Photo provided by Singapore embassy.
By Zhou Xin
BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhuanet) --- Singapore and China enjoy a long-standing and unique friendship, underpinned by close people-to-people ties and substantive and multi-faceted cooperation, said Stanley Loh Ka Leung, Singapore’s Ambassador to China during a recent interview with Xinhuanet.
Loh spoke highly of China’s remarkable progress in economic development in the past few years such as the bold plans for economic transformation by promoting greater domestic consumption, innovation, entrepreneurship, SOE reforms and sustainable development.
It has become even more important for Singapore and China to signal "our commitment to economic integration, free trade and investment against the backdrop of anti-globalization voices in some countries," said the Ambassador.
“If countries become isolationist or protectionistic, nobody will win,” he stressed.
Speaking of the bilateral cooperation, Loh noted that Singapore has been supporting the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the “Belt and Road Initiative” by providing financial and project management services for regional infrastructure projects.
He held the Initiative can promote regional trade and investment, enhance regional infrastructure, strengthen mutual understanding and trust.
Beyond infrastructure, the Initiative also focuses on aspects of connectivity such as financial, information and policy connectivity, he said.
The Ambassador sees great potential for future bilateral cooperation.
“Singapore can be an effective springboard for Chinese digital companies in search of new markets and opportunities in the Southeast Asia region,” he explained.
Singapore has also been working closely with China in promoting education cooperation, tourism, as well as in other areas, the Ambassador pointed out.
“Building on our strong foundations, we look forward to working closely with our Chinese friends to take our special friendship to the next level in 2017,” said the Ambassador.
