Singaporean deputy prime minister concludes China tour

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng left Shanhgai Sunday, concluding his seven-day official visit to China as a guest of Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi.

Besides Shanghai, Wong also visited Suzhou Industrial Park, a joint project between China and Singapore in east China's Jiangsu Province, and Beijing.

During Wong's stay in Beijing, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with him. Wu and Wong co-chaired the third meeting of China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and the eighth meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the Suzhou Industrial Park.

China and Singapore have agreed to develop Suzhou Industrial Park as the world's most competitive high-tech industrial base.

The two sides have also set targets for the park by 2010, such as an annual economic growth rate of 20 percent and doubled major economic indexes over those of 2005.

During their talks, Wu said China is willing to start the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Singapore on the basis of the framework of the FTA between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Wong hailed the up-coming start of FTA negotiations, saying it will raise bilateral cooperation to a higher strategic level which will also promote the China-ASEAN FTA negotiation process.

When meeting with Wong, Premier Wen said China has a positive attitude toward the FTA and is willing to launch the negotiation as soon as possible on the principle of "equality, mutual-benefit and considering each other's concerns."

Wu and Wong also attended a ceremony of the signing of a cultural cooperation agreement between the two governments.

Source: Xinhua