Singapore's Lawrence Wong in China for first official visit as prime minister
SINGAPORE, June 22 — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will make a five-day official visit to China from Sunday at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
PMO said Wong's introductory visit will see both sides commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Singapore-China diplomatic relations and reaffirm mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral ties.
'It is also an opportunity for leaders on both sides to exchange views on bilateral issues as well as regional and international developments,' PMO said in a statement on Sunday.
In Beijing, Wong who is also Finance Minister, will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li, and Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.
Wong will also travel to Tianjin to attend the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos) and participate in a dialogue session with WEF President Børge Brende.
The prime minister's delegation includes Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Sustainability and Environment Minister and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and for Home Affairs Sim Ann, and Member of Parliament Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Interview: China-Africa trade expo catalyzes economic cooperation, says Zimbabwean official
HARARE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) is a huge success and serves as a catalyst for enhanced trade relations between China and Africa, Allan Majuru, chief executive officer (CEO) of Zimbabwe's trade promotion agency ZimTrade, told Xinhua Monday. In a written interview, Majuru showered praise on the expo for helping Zimbabwean companies to gain more knowledge about the requirements of the Chinese market. "The CAETE plays a pivotal role in deepening China-Africa cooperation by facilitating trade and investment opportunities, encouraging knowledge and technology transfer, and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties," he said. "For Zimbabwe, the expo served as a strategic platform to explore best practices, market trends, and trade opportunities within the Chinese market. Zimbabwean enterprises gained valuable insights into product standards, packaging requirements, and consumer preferences, which are critical for enhancing export competitiveness," Majuru added. The expo, which was held in central China's Hunan Province from June 12 to 15, gathered nearly 4,700 Chinese and African companies as well as over 30,000 participants. According to Zimtrade, a total of 10 Zimbabwean companies participated in the expo, covering various sectors, including horticulture, craft and leather products. "The participants reported positive outcomes, including networking opportunities, secured deals, and potential partnerships with Chinese buyers. The expo provided them with firsthand exposure to China's market dynamics, helping them refine their export strategies," Majuru said. Zimbabwe is already benefiting from existing trade protocols with China, particularly for citrus and avocado exports, and during the expo, significant potential was identified for macadamia nuts in the Chinese market, he said. "To capitalize on these opportunities, the government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and in collaboration with ZimTrade, is actively working to align local production with Chinese market demands, ensuring compliance with international standards," Majuru said, adding that initiatives such as capacity-building workshops, trade missions, and exporter training programs are being implemented to strengthen Zimbabwe's export readiness. The CEO said that given the growing demand for Zimbabwean products in China, ZimTrade anticipates increased local participation in future expos. "ZimTrade, as the national trade development and promotion organization, is intensifying efforts to prepare more exporters through targeted initiatives such as business seminars, business-to-business matchmaking programs and follow-up trade missions to sustain business linkages," he said. "Additionally, the government of Zimbabwe is fostering an enabling trade environment through policy support, including the implementation of bilateral trade agreements and export incentives, ensuring that local businesses maximize such platforms," he added. "For Zimbabwe and China, the expo serves as a catalyst for enhanced trade relations, building on existing frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and bilateral trade protocols," the CEO said, adding that Zimbabwe's participation underscores the government's commitment to expanding exports under the "Zimbabwe is Open for Business" mantra, with ZimTrade spearheading market penetration strategies. "These strategies aim to increase awareness of Zimbabwean products in China, strengthen institutional linkages between trade agencies, and align policy to ease market access for Zimbabwean goods," he added.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Italian scholars back China's multilateral vision, call for deeper partnership
ROME, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Italian experts hailed China's peaceful development path and called for deeper bilateral cooperation to promote global peace and stability at a seminar marking the 55th anniversary of China-Italy diplomatic relations last Friday. Giancarlo Elia Valori, president of the Foundation for International and Geopolitical Studies of Italy, highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two countries, tracing it back to Marco Polo. He also welcomed the recent UN decision to adopt June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, an initiative proposed by China. Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide reviewed the fruits of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1970, and called for continued collaboration as guardians of peace and security, advocates of shared development, and models of mutual learning. In his remarks, Valori criticized the imbalance of the U.S.-led postwar global order and said China's vision of a shared future offers a fairer and more inclusive framework for international cooperation. Pino Arlacchi, former UN under-secretary-general praised China's peaceful global role and its support for a multipolar world. He expressed hope for stronger Italy-China cooperation within the UN, especially in cultural and intellectual exchange. A special exhibition celebrating 55 years of bilateral diplomatic relations was also held on the sideline of the seminar.
BusinessToday
9 hours ago
- BusinessToday
China–ASEAN Forum Launches AI And Edge Computing Hub
Group photo of key representatives from China-ASEAN Information Harbor and Malaysian officials during the opening ceremony The China–ASEAN AI Technology Capacity Building and Edge Computing Infrastructure Cooperation Forum commenced in Kuala Lumpur on June 10, 2025, bringing together over 300 government officials, tech experts, academics, and business representatives from China and ASEAN to explore future prospects in artificial intelligence and edge computing. The event, themed 'Smart Future, Innovation Opportunities', was organised by China–ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd. and marked the official launch of the China–ASEAN Information Harbor Malaysia AI Computing Centre, a new regional hub for intelligent computing services. Roundtable discussion session with panelists from China, Malaysia and ASEAN nations A key milestone was the signing of the 'Metaverse Computing Power AI Strategic Cooperation Agreement' between Planet Hares and Nexus Computing, establishing a foundation for international cooperation in next-generation technologies. Among featured technologies was the Smart Box S1, a compact AI computing device designed for smart city and digital infrastructure edge applications. A roundtable on 'Empowering Industrial Upgrading through AI and Edge Technologies' saw cross-sectoral experts discussing the role of AI and edge computing in industry transformation. Notable presentations included: 'The New Global Standard for Digital Asset Certification' by WGSC Vice Chair by WGSC Vice Chair 'Building the Immersive AI Metaverse with Edge Computing' by Planet Hares by Planet Hares 'Web3 Sharing Economy and Edge Network Construction' by Nexus by Nexus 'Distributed Computing with POCI Consensus and TPU Architecture' by UtilityNet by UtilityNet 'The Future of CDN and Edge Computing in Southeast Asia' by PPIO The 'Excellent AI Agents' segment demonstrated AI applications for personal finance and debt resolution, highlighting practical solutions to real-life issues. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening China–ASEAN digital ties, with a focus on AI-driven innovation and cross-border infrastructure development. Should you require further information, please contact [email protected] Related
