On August 11, 2023 local time, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with visiting Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang Yi conveyed the cordial greetings from Chinese leaders, saying that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong jointly announced in March this year to upgrade the China-Singapore relationship to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, opening up new prospects for high-level mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. Wang Yi expressed his belief that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Singapore relationship will continue to be a front-runner in China’s relations with its neighboring countries. This year marks the centenary of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s birth. Singapore has advanced its modernization process with Eastern values and blazed a unique path of successful development. China supports Singapore’s continuous development and prosperity in accordance with the will of its people.

Lee Hsien Loong asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to Chinese leaders, saying that one valued asset Mr. Lee Kuan Yew left is that he worked with the elder generation of Chinese leaders to lay a solid foundation for the development of Singapore-China relations. The Singaporean side will always remember the important inspiration he brought and carry forward the friendship between Singapore and China. The Singaporean side spoke highly of China’s resolve and efforts to advance its modernization drive and will jointly promote Singapore-China cooperation and open a new chapter of bilateral relations. Noting that the world today is not peaceful, Lee Hsien Loong said that the Singaporean side expects major countries to play a leading role and seek mutual benefit and win-win results. Singapore supports deepening ASEAN-China cooperation to jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development.

Wang Yi stressed that China has also found a development path that suits its national conditions. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as the crystallization of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and fine traditional culture, will guide the Chinese people to advance Chinese modernization and realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China’s development is a boost to the forces for peace and to the stabilizing factors. It will bring lasting dividends and development opportunities to all countries in the world, especially its neighboring countries.

Wang Yi said, out of its motive to maintain unipolar hegemony, the U.S. does not want to see the development and revitalization of China and other emerging countries. On the one hand, the U.S. connives at and supports “Taiwan independence” forces in soliciting U.S. support for independence, which crosses China’s red line. On the other hand, the U.S tears open its pretense of fair competition and coerces other countries to engage in unilateral protectionism against China. These retrogressive acts will only damage its own credibility and prove to the world that the U.S. has become the biggest destabilizing factor in the world.

During his visit, Wang Yi also met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, respectively.