Prime Minister's Office of Singapore
Prime Minister's Office of Singapore
11/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/11/2024 10:48
DPM Gan Kim Yong's Closing Remarks at the 20th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation
Your Excellency, colleagues, we have had a very fruitful and substantive discussion across the JSCs and the JCBC.
It is clear that the upgrade of our relations last year to an "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership" has given our bilateral agenda a renewed focus, one that is more ambitious and forward-looking.
We have made good progress on our three Government-to-Government projects.
On the Suzhou Industrial Park, I am heartened that 30 years after its establishment, it remains a forerunner of China's economic development.
Its focus on the green economy and biomedical sciences is closely aligned with both our countries' priorities.
On the Tianjin Eco-City, we have witnessed excellent progress on its growth as an upgraded National Green Development Demonstration Zone.
As a 'living lab' for net-zero innovation, our hope is for the TEC to spearhead a new model of green development that can be replicated by other cities in China and beyond.
On the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, it continues to shine as a demonstration project for enhancing connectivity in multiple dimensions to drive high-quality growth.
We also had in-depth exchanges on issues under the six pillars of the JCBC.
These range from digital and green economies to supply chain resilience, financial cooperation, public health, and food security.
Through these exchanges, it is clear that the JCBC remains an invaluable platform that provides strategic guidance on our wide-ranging cooperation.
In fact, today's list of deliverables reflects the progress we have made across the past twenty JCBCs.
For instance, at the 5th JCBC in 2008, we announced the successful conclusion of the negotiations for the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
And today, at the 20th JCBC, we will welcome a new chapter in our economic cooperation with the announcement of both sides' commitment to ensuring the entry into force of the CSFTA's Further Upgrade Protocol.
We have much to look forward to next year.
Apart from celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, and the 15th anniversary of the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City.
Let me end by expressing my sincere appreciation to Vice Premier Ding and his delegation for being with us in Singapore as we chart the next bound of cooperation between our two countries.
I trust that you have all also had meaningful exchanges with your counterparts and your friends here.
We look forward to the 21st JCBC in China next year. Thank you.
It is clear that the upgrade of our relations last year to an "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership" has given our bilateral agenda a renewed focus, one that is more ambitious and forward-looking.
We have made good progress on our three Government-to-Government projects.
On the Suzhou Industrial Park, I am heartened that 30 years after its establishment, it remains a forerunner of China's economic development.
Its focus on the green economy and biomedical sciences is closely aligned with both our countries' priorities.
On the Tianjin Eco-City, we have witnessed excellent progress on its growth as an upgraded National Green Development Demonstration Zone.
As a 'living lab' for net-zero innovation, our hope is for the TEC to spearhead a new model of green development that can be replicated by other cities in China and beyond.
On the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, it continues to shine as a demonstration project for enhancing connectivity in multiple dimensions to drive high-quality growth.
We also had in-depth exchanges on issues under the six pillars of the JCBC.
These range from digital and green economies to supply chain resilience, financial cooperation, public health, and food security.
Through these exchanges, it is clear that the JCBC remains an invaluable platform that provides strategic guidance on our wide-ranging cooperation.
In fact, today's list of deliverables reflects the progress we have made across the past twenty JCBCs.
For instance, at the 5th JCBC in 2008, we announced the successful conclusion of the negotiations for the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
And today, at the 20th JCBC, we will welcome a new chapter in our economic cooperation with the announcement of both sides' commitment to ensuring the entry into force of the CSFTA's Further Upgrade Protocol.
We have much to look forward to next year.
Apart from celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, and the 15th anniversary of the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City.
Let me end by expressing my sincere appreciation to Vice Premier Ding and his delegation for being with us in Singapore as we chart the next bound of cooperation between our two countries.
I trust that you have all also had meaningful exchanges with your counterparts and your friends here.
We look forward to the 21st JCBC in China next year. Thank you.