On April 26, 2002, Singaporean President S. R. Nathan met with Vice President Hu Jintao at the Presidential Palace. The two sides held friendly talks.

Hu first conveyed cordial greetings from President Jiang Zemin to Nathan. He said Nathan paid a successful visit to China last September and made important contributions to China-Singapore relations. We appreciate President Nathan's active attitude towards strengthening China-Singapore cooperation.

Nathan asked Hu to convey his good wishes to President Jiang Zemin and other Chinese leaders. Nathan congratulated China on its accession to the WTO at the end of last year and its successful hosting of the Informal Leadership Meeting of APEC.

Hu said that he held fruitful talks with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. Both sides believe that China and Singapore enjoy close relationship featuring frequent contacts, good working relations and personal friendship between their leaders. Fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various areas have brought concrete benefits to both sides. The two countris have maintained good cooperation and consultations on international and regional affairs. Under current complicated and changing international circumstances, China and Singapore should strengthen their cooperation, learn from each other so as to achieve common development.

Hu also briefed Nathan on China's development. He said that China's development is beneficial not only to the Chinese people but also to the peace and development in the region and the world as a whole.

Nathan spoke highly of China's contribution to Asia's development and emphasized that East Asian countries should seize opportunities and join hands in facing challenges from economic globalization. Singapore and China should expand cooperation in various areas and make special efforts to boost exchanges between their younger generations.

On the same afternoon, Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who was accompanying Vice President Hu on the visit, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Tan Chin Tiong signed a memorandum of understanding between foreign ministries of China and Singapore on the Chinese Mayors' Study Visit Program.