On October 3, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi noted that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important partners to each other. Over the 35 years since establishing diplomatic ties, the two countries have adhered to mutual respect, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation, continuously upgrading bilateral relations and achieving fruitful results in various fields of cooperation. The two sides have advanced together in their respective modernization processes, bringing tangible benefits to their peoples.
Xi emphasized that China is willing to work with Singapore to take the 35th anniversary as an opportunity to further deepen political mutual trust, promote high-level cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, jointly uphold the multilateral trading system and fundamental norms of international relations, advance the all-round, high-quality, and forward-looking partnership to greater development, and make greater contributions to regional and global peace and prosperity.
Tharman stated that in 2023, Singapore-China relations were elevated to an all-round, high-quality, and forward-looking partnership. Government-to-government cooperation projects between the two countries continue to advance, constantly adding new features and demonstrating forward-looking vision. The two sides actively expand cooperation in new areas in response to the demands of the times, while their peoples continuously strengthen cultural bonds. He firmly believes that Singapore and China will continue to work closely together to bring bilateral relations to new heights.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also exchanged congratulatory messages. Li said China is willing to further strengthen development strategy alignment with Singapore, deepen high-level cooperation in various fields, jointly uphold the multilateral trading system, and contribute to the respective development of both countries and regional prosperity and stability.
Wong stated that over the years, Singapore-China relations have continuously deepened and established a high degree of mutual trust. Singapore is willing to work with China to continuously expand cooperation in various fields and jointly maintain free trade and the multilateral system.
China
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with a recorded history spanning over four millennia marked by successive dynasties and influential philosophical traditions like Confucianism. It is home to globally recognized cultural sites such as the Great Wall, which was built over centuries to protect against northern invasions, and the Terracotta Army, constructed to accompany the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Today, it is a major global power known for its rich cultural heritage and rapid modern development.
Singapore
Singapore is a modern city-state in Southeast Asia that was founded as a British trading post in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles. It gained independence in 1965 and rapidly transformed from a developing nation into a global economic hub. Today, it is renowned for its multicultural society, efficient infrastructure, and iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
“Chinese President Xi Jinping” is not a place or cultural site, but a political leader. He is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and the President of the People’s Republic of China, holding these positions since 2012 and 2013, respectively. His leadership has been marked by a focus on national rejuvenation, anti-corruption campaigns, and a significant increase in China’s global influence.
Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
This is not a place or cultural site, but a person. Tharman Shanmugaratnam is a Singaporean politician who served as the country’s Senior Minister before being elected as the ninth President of Singapore in September 2023. His career has been distinguished by his previous roles as Deputy Prime Minister and a key figure in economic and social policies.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang
“Chinese Premier Li Qiang” is not a place or cultural site, but a person. He is a senior Chinese politician who became the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in March 2023, following a career that included serving as the Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
Lawrence Wong is not a place or cultural site, but a person. He is a Singaporean politician who became the country’s fourth Prime Minister in May 2024, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong. His appointment marked a significant political transition for the nation, as he leads the country’s next generation of leadership.
multilateral trading system
The multilateral trading system refers to the global framework of rules governing international trade, primarily established by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Its history began after World War II with the goal of promoting economic recovery and peace by reducing trade barriers and preventing discriminatory practices. Today, it provides a forum for trade negotiations and a mechanism for dispute resolution among its member nations.
international relations
International relations is not a physical place or cultural site, but an academic discipline and practice concerning the interactions between countries and other global actors. It emerged as a formal field of study after World War I, largely driven by a desire to understand the causes of war and promote peace. The field analyzes political, economic, and diplomatic relationships to explain global cooperation and conflict.
