DPM Gan Kim Yong’s Op-Ed for the 21st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation

Singapore and China at 35: Enduring Partnership, Steadfast Amidst Change 

Tomorrow, I will be co-chairing the 21^st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) with PRC Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang in Chongqing. As the apex bilateral mechanism between Singapore and China, the JCBC is more than a platform for dialogue. It has anchored our partnership, allowing leaders and officials from both sides to build trust, review progress, and set high-level direction to deliver substantive outcomes.

This 21^st edition of the JCBC is especially meaningful, as it coincides with several bilateral milestones. First, we mark the 35^th anniversary of Singapore-China diplomatic relations this year, with PM Lawrence Wong and Premier Li Qiang exchanging Official Visits. Second, we celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (CCI) – our third Government-to-Government (G2G) project. This follows recent anniversaries of our first two G2G projects – the 30^th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) last year and the 15^th anniversary of the Tianjin Eco-City in 2023. We are holding the JCBC in Chongqing to commemorate this. I look forward to seeing how the CCI has evolved to support emerging priorities central to both our economies, such as green development, digital transformation, and supply chain resilience. I also visited our State-level Bilateral Cooperation Project – the Guangzhou Knowledge City – in September this year, to commemorate its 15^th anniversary. It continues to be a useful testbed for developing new technologies and to support knowledge sharing between Singapore and Guangzhou. Last month, we held the 10^th edition of the Singapore-China Leadership Forum, which is a longstanding platform for dialogue between our leaders and officials to exchange valuable experiences in leadership development.

These milestones are a testament to the steady, long-term vision that Singapore and China have shared in our partnership. We have continuously explored new areas of cooperation where both sides are able to draw on each other’s strengths. This has allowed our collaborations to endure, adapt, and deepen amidst evolving global and domestic circumstances.

Today, countries worldwide face many uncertainties – posed by rising geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds, and rapid technological advancements that bring both opportunities and challenges. It is therefore all the more important that Singapore and China remain committed to our forward-looking vision, to continue building on the strong foundation of our partnership to chart a course for the future. There are three key areas which we can focus on.

Economic Connectivity and Resilient Trade

Our trade and investment ties continue to expand even amidst increasing global economic uncertainties. Through our collaborations in Suzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing and beyond, we are opening new pathways for Singapore businesses to invest in China, and ensuring that trade flows remain secure and resilient.

We are also exploring how we can extend collaboration into third-country markets. During Premier Li Qiang’s recent visit to Singapore, we concluded an agreement to explore third-party market collaboration, leveraging our existing bilateral cooperation in the SIP to facilitate the two-way internationalisation of companies between Southeast Asia and China through Singapore. We also committed to jointly provide third-country training that will support ASEAN countries in advancing sustainable development.

In agricultural and food trade, we are strengthening supply chains, improving market access, and enhancing overall resilience. We will also continue to enhance financial connectivity, to support deepening cross-border trade and investment between our countries.

Green and Digital Innovation

At the heart of our green and digital cooperation is a shared resolve: to find innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. We will continue to promote joint research and innovation collaboration in emerging low-carbon technologies, and take concrete steps in building greener economies and contributing to global climate action. Where there are complementarities, we are also exploring how digital technologies can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our green solutions.

China is at the forefront of clean energy technologies. Singapore will continue to strengthen our bilateral energy collaborations to support our energy transition. We also welcome China’s support for Southeast Asia’s decarbonisation efforts, including through the development of the ASEAN Power Grid.

Our cooperation is complemented by the vibrant network of partnerships between our universities and research institutes. From precision medicine and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to sustainable construction and the promotion of healthy ageing, our institutions are forging capabilities together that will be mutually beneficial.

As we harness the potential of digital technologies such as AI, we should also mitigate emerging risks so that our peoples can embrace such technologies with confidence. Exchanges on our respective approaches in domains like AI governance will enable responsible technological innovation and help build a better future. During Premier Li’s visit, we also agreed to enhance our cooperation in the digital economy, through the sharing of best practices on related policies and regulations. This contributes to the establishment of a trusted and secure digital environment.

People-to-People and Institutional Ties

Underpinning all this are our people-to-people ties. We continue to promote exchanges at all levels, facilitated through our mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement. Regular visits and exchanges between our officials nurture trust and understanding, while people-to-people engagements through both youth and sports exchanges will deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds between our societies for generations to come. A key initiative is the Singapore-China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme, which has helped our students gain a deeper appreciation of each other’s countries.

Looking ahead, I am confident that Singapore and China will continue to adapt and expand our partnership to keep pace with global shifts, unlock new drivers of growth, and contribute to regional and global stability.

Our task is not only to celebrate past milestones, but to chart new horizons – to ensure that this partnership, firmly rooted in trust and friendship, continues to flourish in the coming decades and bring prosperity to our peoples.

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新中建交35周年：伙伴关系历久弥坚　变幻时局行稳致远

明天，我将在重庆和中国国务院副总理丁薛祥共同主持第21届新中双边合作联合委员会（Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation，简称JCBC）会议。作为新加坡及中国最高级别的双边合作机制，这个会议不仅是一个对话平台，更是巩固新中伙伴关系的重要支柱，让两国领导人和官员建立互信、回顾进展，并制定未来合作的战略方向，以取得实质成果。

本届会议适逢两国多个双边合作里程碑，意义尤其重大。首先，新中今年建交35周年。黄循财总理早前接受中国国务院总理李强的邀请到中国进行正式访问，李强总理也应邀前来新加坡进行回访。

其次，今年，我们也迎来中新（重庆）战略性互联互通示范项目实施10周年。这是继苏州工业园区去年庆祝成立30周年、天津生态城前年欢庆开发建设15周年后，第三个政府间合作项目的标志性进展。本届JCBC会议特地选在重庆举办，正是为了纪念这个别具意义的时刻。我期待了解中新（重庆）互联互通项目如何不断深化发展，以支持绿色发展、数码转型和供应链韧性等对两国经济至关重要的新兴领域。此外，我在9月参访了中新广州知识城，庆祝这一国家级双边合作项目成立15周年。知识城将继续成为开发新技术及促进新广两地共享知识的重要试验平台。上个月，我们还举办了第10届新中领导力论坛。这是两国领导人及官员之间，就领导力发展进行长期对话、交流宝贵经验的平台。

新中两国一贯以长远且坚定的共同愿景为合作指引，而这些里程碑实质体现了这一愿景。我们不断开拓新的合作领域，充分发挥彼此优势、互相借鉴。因此，尽管新中两国面临的国际局势和国内环境不断演变，我们的合作仍能因时制宜、延续发展并加以深化。

如今，世界各国正面临诸多不确定因素，包括地缘政治紧张局势加剧、经济面临逆风，以及科技的迅速发展，机遇与挑战并存。因此，新中两国更应该坚守前瞻性的合作愿景，在牢固的合作基础上共谋未来发展。为实现这一点，我们可重点关注以下三大领域：

经济互联互通与稳健贸易

尽管全球经济不确定因素日益加剧，新中两国依旧不断拓展双方的贸易与投资关系。我们在苏州、天津、重庆等地的合作，为新加坡企业在华投资开辟了新途径，也让贸易往来保持稳健。

新中两国也正在探索如何在第三方市场展开合作。李强总理近期访问我国时，两国就此签署了谅解备忘录，以苏州工业园区现有的双边合作为基础、以新加坡为门户，来推进东南亚与中国企业之间的双向国际化。两国也承诺携手为亚细安国家提供第三方国家培训，帮助亚细安各国推进可持续发展进程。

在农业与食品贸易方面，我们也在加强供应链，让两国业者更能打入彼此的市场，并且提高贸易体系的整体韧性。我们也将持续加强金融市场互联互通，以深化两国之间的跨境贸易与投资。

绿色与数码创新

新中两国在绿色与数码领域的合作核心在于双方的共同决心：为紧迫的全球挑战寻找创新的解决方案。我们将继续携手推进新兴低碳科技的研究与创新，并采取切实行动，进一步促进绿色经济发展，为全球气候行动做出贡献。我们也在探索如何利用数码技术来提升绿色解决方案的效率与效能。

中国在清洁能源技术领域处于领先地位。我们将继续加强与中国的双边能源合作，以支持我国的能源转型。我们也乐见中国对东南亚脱碳进程的支持，包括推进亚细安电网的建成。

两国大学与研究机构之间建立了活跃多元的伙伴关系，使我们的双边合作更加全面深厚。双方机构也正就精准医疗、人工智能应用、可持续建筑以及促进活跃乐龄等方面携手开展能力建设，实现互惠互利，推动共同发展。

在我们不断挖掘人工智能等数码科技潜力的同时，我们也必须妥善防范新兴风险，让两国人民能够安心使用这些科技。我们在人工智能治理等领域的交流，将有助于推动负责任的技术创新，共同建设更美好的未来。在李强总理访新期间，我们也同意通过相关政策与治理实践经验的分享，进一步推进两国在数码经济领域的合作。这将有助于构建可信、安全的数码环境。

民间交流与机构间的联系

最后，两国深厚的民间交流更是双边合作的核心基础。新中两国落实30天互免签证的安排，持续推动了各阶层人员的交流。官员之间的定期互访与往来有助于增进彼此的信任，青年与体育领域的民间交流则将深化相互理解，并巩固两国社会世代相传的友好情谊。新中青年实习交流计划是一项重要举措，让两国学生更深入地了解彼此的国家、文化与人文风貌。

放眼未来，我有信心，新中两国将继续与时俱进，不断拓展伙伴关系，以顺应全球格局的变化。我也相信两国能挖掘新的增长动力，并为区域及全球稳定做出贡献。

新加坡与中国一路走来达成了许多重要里程碑，但我们更需要承前启后，开拓新领域，以确保这份基于互信与友谊的伙伴关系在未来数十年持续蓬勃发展，为两国人民带来长久的繁荣。