CRI听力:Former Chinese Leader's 1978 Visit to Singapore Revisited: Han Tan Juan

It has been almost forty years since Chinese and Singaporean leaders last met each other - in 1978.

At that time, Han Tan Juan was a chief editor for former Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs.

He recalls Lee's meeting with the then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping saying it was unlike any other in history, given the fact the China and Singapore hadn't yet established diplomatic relations.

"His visit was extraordinary as a diplomatic activity because Singapore and China had not established relations back then, and the ties between the two countries were not as strong as today. There were still many unresolved issues."

Mr. Lee paid special attention to Deng's visit and gave him a presidential welcome.

"Mr. Lee rarely went to the airport to welcome state guests, but he went when Deng Xiaoping came and he went to see Deng off at the airport as well."

Han also shares an anecdote about the two leaders' meeting. Knowing Deng was a heavy smoker, Mr Lee provided two ashtrays for the Chinese leader.

"What is interesting is that Deng also knew Lee was sensitive to smoke. We don't know how he knew, but he did not smoke once during the two or three hours of the meeting."

China and Singapore established relations in 1990; although communication between the top leaders from China and Singapore had began in 1978.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's visit to Singapore also played an important role in China's adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in 1979.

During Xi's time in Singapore, he will also meet Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou to exchange views on the future of relations.

This will be the first cross-Strait meeting between top leaders of both sides of the Taiwan Strait since the founding of New China in 1949.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua