国内英语新闻:China values relations with Singapore: vice president

SINGAPORE, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said here Sunday that China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Singapore and is willing to continue to expand and deepen friendly cooperation of mutual benefit on the basis of mutual respect and equality.

When meeting with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Xi said China, together with Singapore, will promote the overall and sound development of bilateral relations from the new starting point of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties so as to further benefit the peoples of the two countries.

In the past decades, the bilateral relations have developed rapidly with considerable broadness and in-depth, said Xi, adding that the two countries have enjoyed high level of economic and trade cooperation which can be served as a good model.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng during their meeting in Singapore, Nov. 14, 2010.

He said China and Singapore have achieved fruitful results in human resources and governance exchanges, and conducted close coordination in regards of major international and regional issues.

Leaders of the two countries always consider the bilateral relations from strategic and long-term perspective so that the relations have maintained sustainable, stable and sound development, Xi said.

With three cooperative mechanisms of vice-prime-minister level in place, the two sides witnessed rapid progress in such fields as hi-tech, Singapore's participation in China's local development, " Going Out" of Chinese enterprises, and human resources development, he said.

Xi hoped the joint committee of bilateral relations, a major mechanism, will further offer more support to cooperation in various fields of the two countries so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

China is still a developing country, and faces an arduous task to develop economy and improve people's life, though it has gained the remarkable achievement since the reform and opening-up, Xi said.

Wong Kan Seng said it is of great significance of Xi's visit at the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Singapore and China have a sound and strong basis in their relations, Wong said, adding that a successful and strong China will be conducive to the development of Singapore, also conducive to the benefit of countries in the region.

Singapore will further the exchanges and cooperation with China to promote the bilateral relations to a new level.