Premier Li Xianlong made a formal visit to China in March this year, with rich results.It is worth noting that the Chinese dignitaries he met, the warm atmosphere of the meeting, and open and substantial dialogue.
Premier Li met with four Chinese leaders in the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Government, which is more than ever.In addition to Chinese President Xi Jinping, he also met with Li Qiang, Prime Minister of the State Council, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.During his visit to Beijing, Guangdong and Hainan, he also met the party secretary of these places.
Singapore and China have upgraded bilateral relations to "comprehensive and high -quality forward -looking partnerships", and substantially complete the follow -up negotiations of the upgrading of the new China Free Trade Agreement, which will bring new opportunities to enterprises in the two countries.The two countries agreed to further develop new international land and sea trade channels, deepen cooperation in the fields of digital economy, green development, and finance, and restore aviation interconnection.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China -Singapore cooperation "has set a benchmark for regional countries."He knows that Singapore's exploration of new cooperation areas and the willingness to formulate roadmap for this.He knows that Singapore, like other Asianan countries, has repeatedly stated that he does not want to choose the side stations in the increasingly acute dispute in the United States and China.However, Singapore will not hesitate to strengthen cooperation with China, and express frank and objective opinions on the relationship between the great powers in trouble.
Singapore has proven that not choosing a side does not prevent the systematic development and deepening relationships with all parties, and constantly creatively seek new areas of cooperation.
relations with China
This is an important visit to an important country, which is inevitable.If it wasn't for the crown disease, it had disrupted the normal mutual visits, and the visit to China would have been carried out.
Since 2020, China has been communicating with the leaders of Asianan through online meetings.In 2021, Xi Jinping attended the "Aya Gyan -China -China Establishment of the 30th Anniversary Summit of the Establishment of Dialogue" through video, announcing the establishment of the Asia Details -China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.However, there is nothing to replace the face -to -face meetings and speeches of leaders of various countries, and exchange opinions on the development of the world and regions.
China is a big customer.It is the largest trading partner in Singapore. Although we do not have the "Belt and Road" infrastructure projects, China's "Belt and Road" investment in the region is through Singapore.
Singapore is now one of China's largest foreign investors.Many well -known Singapore companies, such as Raffles Medical Group, DBS Bank, Overseas Chinese Bank, Bank of China, Camp Land and Jibao Enterprise, and small and medium -sized enterprises that have the most Singaporeans in Singapore and the most employed Singaporeans have carried out business in ChinaEssence
Xi Jinping said that Premier Li is one of the most frequent foreign leaders visiting China.Premier Li responded that he usually tried to visit China once a year.
Singapore wisely and carefully balanced between China and the United States.It often reiterates that he hopes to become friends of the two countries.
relations with the United States
Singapore has a comprehensive strategic relationship with the United States.We have cooperated extensively with the United States in terms of national defense, economy, sustainable development, network security, and recent space in outer space.
The defense cooperation between the two sides began in 1990. At that time, the United States was suddenly asked to leave the Subick Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Force Base, which was asked to leave the Philippines. We let the United States use military facilities.For a long time, Singapore has always believed that the existence of the United States has helped peace and stability in the region.Singapore said.
Singapore's past and now are not the US military bases in Asia; it is the "Lily Pad" base described in Singapore's locations like the Pentagon later in its great strategy.This small existence subsequently expanded to the cooperation projects listed in the strategic framework agreement signed in 2005, covering ship maintenance and maintenance of ships including aircraft carriers, as well as counter -terrorism and intelligence exchanges on the spread of global terrorism.EssenceIn 2013, the United States took turns to transfer the coastal battleship to Singapore.In 2021, the two countries launched network security cooperation and launched foreign space cooperation in 2022.
We started negotiations with the United States on the bilateral free trade agreement in 2000. The United States also negotiated with Chile's free trade agreement at the same time. This was a breakthrough at the time.It has re -ignited the United States' interest in reaching the originally shelved trade agreement.After the war is over, it may be necessary to negotiate with the Ukraine's strategic free trade agreement in order to once again stimulate the interests of the United States' interest in trade agreements!
Since the US President Biden took office, Premier Li has met with him three times.In October 2021, Premier Li met with Biden during the Twenty Group Summit held in Rome, and met in Washington twice, a work visit in March 2022, and two months later at the United States -Asianian Special Summit., I met Bayon with other Asian Leaders.
In fact, the United States performed very active in 2021 and 2022. He sent Deputy President Harris, National Defense Minister Austin, Secretary of State Brinken, and several other cabinet ministers to this area, including visiting Singapore.
Bynden government tried to prove that despite the Ukrainian war, the United States did not ignore Asia and Asia in Asia.This is responding to repeated complaints in Southeast Asian countries, that is, the United States does not conduct high -level political visits to the region.The sense of existence is important.After all, as long as you visit in person, you can achieve 90 % success.
As a small country, our growth and prosperity depend on a stable external environment. It is disturbing that we are almost unable to shape such an environment.Within our limited ability, we seek to make a sound so that people pay attention to the views of the region's geopolitical competition.The Asian country country hopes to see that the continuous deterioration between the United States and China can stabilize, and both sides avoid taking measures that may lead to various groups in Asia.
Premier Li proposed at the exchange meeting of the Japan Economic News Agency in 2022 that "the more stable and tension is that the two major countries in China and the United States have overlapping friends circle, so that other countries can be friendly with both sides at the same time.Cooperation. "Indonesia proposed the concept of AOIP (AOIP), which emphasizes tolerance.
Asianan insists on emphasizing "tolerance", it seems that the India -Pacific strategy of some European countries has become more tolerant.Based on the feedback of Ya'an, the Biden government adjusted the attention of the "QUAD) of the" Quartet Safety Dialogue "(QUAD) in the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, and provided cooperation opportunities in humanitarianism and development assistance in vaccines and medical care.This eases the attitude of Asian's attitude towards the "four -way security dialogue" to a certain extent.
Worrying about the direction
At present, many countries, including the members of the Asianan member country, are worried about the direction of US -China relations.They are worried that the United States' legislation and supervision on China may lead to technological differentiation with the world economy. This is a catastrophic result that is unbearable.To make matters worse, some people in the United States and China are saying that the two countries are on the edge of war.
The European leaders who are anxious to visit China obviously have the same concerns.The world's second largest economy cannot be ignored. China is regarded as a key role in the Ukrainian war.
In November 2022, German Prime Minister Tsurtz visited Beijing with a group of German business leaders. At that time, China had not changed the crown disease zero policy.French President Macron led a huge business delegation to visit China. When he left, he clearly realized that France's "strategic autonomy" approach may lead to some differences with the Chinese position with the United States.
Before the European Union Commission chairman Feng Delin visited China, he delivered "de -risk but not decoupled with China" as an important speech for the European economic strategy.After the visit, she emphasized even more when she spoke in the European Parliament, "For Europe, the decoupling is obviously uncomfortable, insignificant, or even unrealistic. "She said that it is necessary for Europe to formulate its own strategy to China and be firm and tough in reducing economic risks. She pointed out that China's strategic gesture isIt has become tough, Europe should be prepared for response.
Obviously, whether it is Singapore, Asianan or Europe, the most important thing is to seek balance to protect their own interests.In this context of fierce competition and dispute, leaders of various countries seek to establish the best relationship with two superpowers.
The most important thing is that through dialogue and joint efforts, they want to convey such a message to the United States and China: I deeply hope to avoid serious division and believe that it may find a road of coexistence to some extent, regardless of whetherHow difficult it is.
The author is a professor of the Singapore Foreign Ministry of Foreign Ambassador Singapore University of Science and Technology Design University Li Guangyao Innovation City Center.
