Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will visit Singapore, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam from Sept. 19 to 25, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced in Beijing Tuesday.

Wu is to visit these countries at the invitation of Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Bruneian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah.

In response to questions on the China-Singapore relations at a news briefing, Qin said as an important part of the Singapore visit, Wu will co-host the second meeting of the joint committee for China-Singapore cooperation with her Singaporean counterpart.

"Singapore is a friendly neighbor of China and a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," Qin said.

He said the China-Singapore ties have developed smoothly and the two

countries had good cooperation in trade, education, cultural exchanges and international issues.

Singapore is currently China's largest trade partner in the ASEAN. During the first seven months of this year, the bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached 17.8 billion US dollars, up 25 percent on a yearly basis.

Wu will also host the second meeting of the joint committee for China-Thailand economic cooperation and trade when she is in Thailand, Qin said.

Source: Xinhua