On November 7 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Singapore are special friends and partners. Reviewing the course since the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago, the sound development of bilateral relations could be attributed to both sides’ adherence to strategic planning, following of the trend of the times and sticking to pioneering and innovation. During his visit to Singapore, he agreed with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Premier Lee Hsien Loong to define the bilateral relations as a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping up with the times. Looking into the future, both sides should enhance political mutual trust, strengthen top-level guidance and upgrade practical cooperation for mutual benefits, win-win results and common development. The two countries should launch as soon as possible their third government-to-government project based in Chongqing. Both nations should further expand cooperation in economy, trade and investment, and actively explore mode of cooperation between the enterprises of both sides in the third market within the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative. Both countries have agreed to launch and conclude at an early date negotiations on upgrading their free trade agreement (FTA) on the basis of balanced interest, so as to inject fresh vigor into bilateral cooperation in economy and trade. China and Singapore should continue tapping the potential of cooperation in finance and jointly build a financial platform to support regional production capacity cooperation. Both sides should maintain the momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, ensure a success of exchanges between youths and university students of the two countries, and expand fields and modes in education cooperation as well as human resources cooperation to raise the level of cultural cooperation. The two nations should also deepen mutual learning and mutual reference in such fields as scientific and technological innovation, green development and modern agriculture, boost cooperation in social governance and law enforcement security, jointly fight transnational crimes and strengthen exchanges between the two countries' militaries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) face an important opportunity to develop their relations. China is willing to, together with the ASEAN members, strengthen strategic dialogue and deepen practical cooperation in various fields to jointly lift China-ASEAN strategic partnership to a new height. Singapore took the rotating seat as coordinator for China-ASEAN relations this August, and China will support the work of Singapore and believes that it will guide the ASEAN to work with China to implement various initiatives proposed by leaders of both sides, continuously dedicate to safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea and advance the sound and stable development of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. The Chinese side stands ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with Singapore within regional and global mechanisms like the United Nations.

Lee Hsien Loong noted that Singapore-China relations maintain a momentum of sound development. President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Singapore on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Singapore and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Singapore-China diplomatic relations is of great significance and will surely open a new chapter of development of Singapore-China relations. Singapore has been regarding China’s development as a positive factor in the region and the world at large. During President Xi Jinping’s visit to Singapore, both sides agreed to define bilateral relations as a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping up with the times, and reached consensus in launching the negotiations on an upgrade of the FTA, signing a series of new and important cooperation agreements, expanding bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, finance and other sectors, especially in launching the third government-to-government cooperation project, which showed that Singapore is fully confident in China's development. Bilateral cooperation in culture and education is also booming. Singapore hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and global affairs such as climate change and the G20, and supports the inclusion of the RMB into the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of currencies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Singapore also supports ASEAN in deepening cooperation with China, and supports proper handling of disputes on the South China Sea in the light of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

After the talks, Xi jinping and Lee Hsien Loong together witnessed signing of a slew of cooperation documents in such areas as connectivity, trade, construction of “Belt and Road”, city governance and planning, education and customs.

At the noon of the same day, Lee Hsien Loong and his wife accompanied Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan to the Singapore Botanic Gardens and invited Xi Jinping and his wife to name the new variety of orchid planted by the Gardens in accordance with the traditional etiquette for receiving a foreign leader.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the talks.