At the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council will pay an official visit to Singapore from November 18 to 22, 2007 and attend the 11th 10+3 (ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) Summit, the 11th ASEAN-China (10+1) Summit, and the third East Asia Summit. During his stay in Singapore, Premier Wen will also attend the 8th Chinese, Japanese and ROK Leaders' Meeting.

On the afternoon of November 14, 2007, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei held a briefing to Chinese and foreign journalists and information officers of foreign embassies to China, introducing Premier Wen's upcoming visit to Singapore. Qin Gang, Deputy Director-General of the Information Department hosted the briefing.

I. Premier Wen's visit to Singapore

He Yafei said that China and Singapore are friendly neighbours and the people of the two countries enjoy a profound friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 17 years ago, the relationship between China and Singapore has been growing on a fast track and enjoying a pleasing momentum of growth. The two countries have carried out productive cooperation in varied areas and enjoyed enhancing mutual understanding and trust on major issues. Premier Wen's upcoming visit is the first visit by a Chinese premier to Singapore in the 8 past years. During his visit, Premier Wen will have talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, exchanging views on promoting cooperation in priority areas and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. In addition to the meetings with President S.R.Nathan, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Premier Wen will also meet extensively with the people from different circles. Premier Wen will deliver an important speech in the National University of Singapore, stressing that China will always, under the guidance of the spirit of the 17th CPC National Congress, adhere to the peaceful development and pursue an opening-up strategy featuring mutual benefits and win-win results. It is believed that Premier Wen's visit will deepen the neighborly friendliness between the two countries, advance the mutually beneficial cooperation and help the two countries make new headway for bilateral relations.

II. Premier Wen's attendance of East Asian leaders meetings

It will be the fifth time that Premier Wen attends the East Asian leaders meetings. Premier Wen's visit to Singapore is another important visit by top Chinese leaders to the neighbouring region after the 17th CPC National Congress. It bears great significance in deepening the relationship of neighbourly friendliness and pushing forward the East Asian cooperation. The main goal of Premier Wen's attendance of the East Asian leaders meetings is to enhance understanding and political trust between China and neighbouring countries, strengthen the regional cooperation in East Asia, promote the harmonious, common and sustainable development of all East Asian countries, according to He Yafei.

The economic growth and social development of East Asian countries and the regional cooperation in East Asia maintain a strong momentum, with new progress being made. As an important force safeguarding regional stability and development, ASEAN is drafting the ASEAN Charter in celebration of its 40th anniversary in a bid to fulfil the goal of establishing the ASEAN Community by 2015, said He Yafei.

On the occasion of the Commemorative Summit Marking the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relation last October, China and ASEAN issued a Joint Statement, under whose guidance, both sides maintained close exchanges, expanded mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, coordinated with and supported each other on major regional and international issues. In the 10+1 Summit, Premier Wen will extend congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and reaffirm that China supports the integration of ASEAN and supports ASEAN in playing a leading role in regional cooperation. Premier Wen will review the progress made in the past year with the leaders of ASEAN countries, exchange views with them on consolidating and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation, and raise new cooperation initiatives.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of ASEAN + China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (10+3) cooperation. ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) all look forward to reviewing the progress and achievements made in the past decade and having discussions on further consolidating the East Asian cooperation on the occasion of the 10+3 Summit, at which Premier Wen will sum up the experience learned from the 10+3 cooperation, and exchange views with the other sides particularly on deepening 10+3 cooperation. The 10+3 Summit will review and adopt the 2nd Joint Statement on East Asian Cooperation and the Work Plan for 10+3 Cooperation, which will enable the 10+3 cooperation to play an important role in promoting regional peace, development, and prosperity.

As an important part of the East Asian cooperation, the cooperation among China, Japan and ROK is increasing. This April, Premier Wen paid a successful visit to the Republic of Korea and Japan respectively. This June, the foreign ministers of the three countries held a meeting in Chejudao, Republic of Korea. The three countries established a high-level diplomatic consultation mechanism, aiming at strengthening coordination and communication on major regional and international issues. The three countries all look forward to exchanging views and raising concrete initiatives on strengthening exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas including environmental protection, science, technology, culture and youth. According to the routine, the leaders of China, Japan and ROK will adopt an annual progress report on the cooperation among the three countries.

As economic globalisation and regional integration continue to move forward, issues of global nature such as energy, environment and climate change are attracting more and more attention. The countries in the region also conducted beneficial dialogues and cooperation concerning these issues within the East Asian cooperation frameworks including 10+1, 10+3 and the East Asia Summit in the past year. The East Asia Summit will have discussions on how to strengthen cooperation among the East Asian countries to deal with challenges posed by issues of global nature and promote the harmonious and sustainable development of countries in the region. At the Summit, Premier Wen will expound on the principles, position, policies and propositions of China on climate change and introduce the strategic measures that have already taken place and will take place in the future. Premier Wen will also exchange views with the leaders of other East Asian countries on the future direction of the East Asia Summit, according to He Yafei.

He stressed that strengthening neighbourly friendliness, promoting regional cooperation, expanding common interest, achieving joint development is the absolute policy choice of China, the common aspirations and objectives of countries in the region. We hope that the East Asia Summit could be a productive and successful one and could promote the East Asian cooperation toward the direction of mutual benefits and win-win results.

He Yafei also answered the questions concerning the cooperation between China and Singapore, the relationship between China and Japan, the situation in Myanmar and climate change.