On the evening of November 12, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the welcome banquet hosted by the business circle and friendship organizations of Singapore and delivered a heart-warming speech.

He extended gratitude to all the friends who had been committed to promoting the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Singapore and conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of the Chinese people to the Singaporean people.

He noted that China and Singapore have maintained close high-level interactions and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1990. Singapore has become an important partner of China within ASEAN. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has grown continuously. The friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has not only brought about tangible benefit to their people but also promoted peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

He pointed out that China, in line with its national conditions, will continue to follow the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, adhere to reform and opening up, push forward scientific development, promote social harmony and advance the all-round building of well-off society. China will unswervingly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, the road of peaceful development and the mutually beneficial and win-win opening strategy. It is committed to developing friendly cooperation with all the other countries on the basis of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, joining hands with the rest of the world to advance the lofty undertaking of peace and development of mankind and building a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.

He stressed that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Singapore has all the while stood at the forefront of China's economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN members. As the world economic growth faces challenges, China and Singapore should more than ever tap the potential and explore new opportunities of cooperation in order to recover the economy as soon as possible. We are full of confidence in the future of China-Singapore economic and trade cooperation.

More than 300 delegates, including Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, attended the dinner. Delivering a speech to the banquet, President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce ＆ Industry Teo Siong Seng, on behalf of all circles of the Singaporean society, expressed warm welcome to President Hu. He said that China enjoys fast economic growth and increasing international status and influence. A prosperous and stable China will benefit the region and the world at large. The Singaporean business circle will continue to play an active role in promoting the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Singapore and advancing the bilateral relations.

Hu met cordially with representatives of Singaporean business circle and friendship organizations during the dinner.

Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo were also present at the dinner.