Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that he believed China and Singapore will embrace more opportunities in the new era to yield more substantial cooperative results.
Xi made the remarks at a meeting with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and the two leaders agreed to improve regional interconnectivity and cooperation in several key areas.
President Xi said the senior leaders of the two countries have laid a solid foundation of bilateral relations, and he believed that Lee's visit will deepen the traditional friendship between the two sides and promote greater development for bilateral cooperation.
Xi said China is willing to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Singapore's development strategy to improve cooperation in trade and investment, finance, science and technology and innovation.
He also suggested that the two sides adhere to mutual understanding and show mutual support and respect on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
Consolidating bilateral relations and strengthening political mutual trust not only conform with the interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also benefit regional and world peace, stability and prosperity, Xi stressed.
Lee, for his part, said he fully agrees with Xi's evaluation on bilateral ties.
The Singaporean leader thanked Xi for the warm reception and hailed the success of the BRICS Summit in Xiamen earlier this month.
He said Singapore follows the one-China policy, opposes Taiwan independence, and hopes to see a stable and prosperous China.
As the coordinator of China-ASEAN ties and the rotating chair of ASEAN next year, Singapore will spare no efforts to facilitate the relationship between China and ASEAN and enhance the cooperation among member states of the bloc, Lee noted.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the latest hot-spot international issues.
Lee is paying an official visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday. Earlier in the day, he also met Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan, senior officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
