Vice president vows closer ties with Singapore
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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in Beijing on Monday, vowing to boost closer bilateral exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture, national defense and other areas.
Calling Lee the founder of China-Singapore relations and an old friend of the Chinese people, Xi said he appreciated Lee's great contribution in boosting bilateral ties over the past years.
Xi also congratulated the success of Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in the country's general election earlier this month.
He hailed the remarkable achievements of China-Singapore relations, citing frequent exchanges among state leaders, increased understanding and friendship, and in particular, the improved cooperation in terms of human resources.
"Tens of thousands of Chinese cadres at various levels have gone to Singapore for study tours since China's reform and opening-up, and they have played important roles in cementing bilateral friendship and promoting China's modernization drive," Xi said.
Xi vowed joint efforts with Singapore to boost win-win cooperation in areas such as trade, culture, defense, personnel exchanges and training, to promote all-round growth of bilateral relations.
The 87-year-old Lee spoke highly of China's development achievements, adding he believes China would enjoy an even brighter future.
The former Singaporean minister mentor, who announced his retirement from cabinet earlier this month, said he was satisfied with the sound growth of Singapore-China relations, calling on enhanced cooperation in personnel training and human resource exchanges.
In another meeting with senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Yunshan, Lee said the international community including Singapore had benefited from China's development, and Singapore would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in areas such as human resources and media.
Liu, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, also pledged to enhance exchanges between the two ruling parties.
"Under the PAP's leadership, Singapore has scored remarkable development. The CPC is ready to continue to enhance exchanges with the PAP and learn from each other, so as to promote common development of the two countries," said Liu.
Lee, as the founding father of Singapore, has served in top posts of the government for more than five decades. He was the prime minister of Singapore since its independence in 1965, and stepped down in 1990 to serve as minister mentor for the cabinet.
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