Find ways to Ride on China's Growth: Singaporean PM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 19, 2002

Find ways to Ride on China's Growth: Singaporean PM

Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said at the National Day Rally 2002 Sunday that Singapore must find ways to ride on China's growth.

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Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said at the National Day Rally 2002 Sunday that Singapore must find ways to ride on China's growth.

"I first went to China in 1971. It took us four days to reach Beijing," he said.

"Today, however, you can fly directly to Beijing in six hours. This is just one simple illustration of how much China has changed," he said.

Hence, besides building up skills and expertise to stay ahead of competitors, "we must find ways to ride on China's growth," he stressed.

Urging Chinese Singaporeans to work hard at learning the Chinese language, Goh noted that as China grows, the economic value of the Chinese language will increase.

"We must produce in every cohort a group of bilingual Chinese elite. This Chinese elite should not only be proficient in the Chinese language. They should be knowledgeable about Chinese history and culture, and have a good understanding of contemporaryChina -- its politics, economics, and business environment," he added.

The rally is part of a series of celebration activities markingthe 37th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Singapore,which became an independent state on 9 August 1965. A grand National Day parade was held on August 9 this year, highlighting the peak of the celebrations.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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