Singapore Deputy PM Visits China, Confirms Commitment to Multilateral Trading System

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao respectively in Beijing on September 4. This marked his first official visit as Deputy Prime Minister during a five-day trip from August 31, visiting Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beijing. In the meeting with Commerce Minister Wang, both countries confirmed their shared commitment to "maintaining the rules-based international order and multilateral trading system." Deputy PM Gan expressed welcome for China serving as APEC chair in 2026. The meeting with Vice President Han confirmed progress in bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, digital, and financial sectors, showing positive attitude toward the 21st Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) scheduled for the second half of 2025 in Chongqing. JCBC was established in 2003 with alternating hosting between both countries. The meeting with Vice Premier He discussed economic cooperation, reaffirming enhanced economic partnership through existing bilateral projects: China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (development began 1994), China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (2007), and China-Singapore (Chongqing) Strategic Connectivity Demonstration Initiative (2015). Both countries will celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.