China and Singapore on Thursday agreed to further cement economic cooperation for mutual benefit.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and visiting Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng co-chaired the 10th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Steering Council for Suzhou Industrial Park and the fifth meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation in Tianjin.

The two nations have maintained a healthy development in bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990. They have also cooperated in high-tech fields and the China's "going-beyond-the-border" program, which encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and develop businesses abroad. The two sides also deepened their cooperation in China's regional development and human resources development, among others, Wang said.

"The successful completion of negotiations with Singapore on a free trade area (FTA), which is of great importance to bilateral relations, will promote the economic cooperation of the two countries," Wang said.

"China takes Singapore as a key partner, and would like to work together to continuously promote bilateral ties."

Hailing the completion of the China-Singapore FTA negotiation, Wong said Singapore was satisfied with the development of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin eco-city. Singapore would work with China to push the bilateral relation forward.

The two sides also agreed the industrial park has become an important model for Sino-Singaporean cooperation in a new era.

In 2006, the park produced 68 billion yuan (9.94 U.S. dollars) of gross domestic product. Its total imports and exports reached 50billion U.S. dollars.

On Wednesday, Wang and Wong co-chaired the first meeting of China-Singapore Joint Steering Committee for Tianjin Eco-city.

The construction of the eco-city, the second joint project by the two governments following the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern Jiangsu Province, began in July and is to be completed in 10 to 15 years.

The development, 40 km from downtown Tianjin and 150 km from Beijing, will be guided by Singapore's use of solar and wind power and rainwater recycling experience. Other areas of expertise include wastewater treatment and sea water desalination.

Wong is paying an official visit to China from Sept. 2 to 6.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2008)