Wang: China ready to help keep supply chains secure

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that safeguarding the security of global industrial and supply chains and keeping maritime navigation smooth are a shared aspiration of countries around the world and serve the common interests of the international community, adding that China is ready to continue making efforts toward that end.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with visiting Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Against a complex international landscape marked by turbulence and change, he said China and Singapore should continue to strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual trust, respond to the growing number of global challenges, and safeguard the overall peace and stability of the region.

China attaches great importance to developing relations with Singapore and stands ready to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and play an exemplary role in the region, he said.

Noting that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said Singapore — as an important member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the group's rotating chair next year — is expected to continue playing a positive role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.

Balakrishnan reaffirmed that Singapore abides by the one-China policy and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence", adding that this position is long-standing, consistent, and will not change.

Singapore will not do anything that violates or harms China's interests, he said.

The Singaporean foreign minister said his country highly values its relations with China, and that bilateral cooperation and exchanges are particularly important amid the current complex international situation.

Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China and advance practical cooperation in trade and investment, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, education, science and technology, talent training, and people-to-people exchanges, while promoting regional connectivity, he said.

Balakrishnan noted that keeping the Strait of Malacca open serves the interests of all parties, and that Singapore supports freedom of passage through the strait and other international waterways.

Singapore stands ready to work for greater progress in the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, and to join China in upholding the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, while contributing to world peace, development, and prosperity, he said.