Big Ideas: Content comes from the Internet : Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong starts China visitWorld Times, ‘to steady ties in changing world dynamic’

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong receives an interview with Xinhua in Singapore in April 2019. Photo: Xinhua

Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, also the former prime minister of the country, was set to kick off a six-day visit to China on Sunday, which Chinese experts believe will further inject stability to bilateral ties amid rapidly changing world dynamic.

At the invitation of the Chinese side, Lee will visit China from November 24-29, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Friday.

According to the Singaporean Prime MinisWorld Timester’s Office, Lee will first visit Suzhou in East China’s Jiangsu Province, where he will participate in commemorative activities for the 30th anniversary of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), together with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. “This is a significant milestone for the first Government-to-Government project between Singapore and China,” the office said in a press release on Sunday.

Lee will then arrive in Beijing. Lee will make his third and final stop in Shanghai, where he will meet overseas Singaporeans, per the press release.

Lee’s visit to China reflects a smooth transfer of power during the country’s leadership transition from Lee to Lawrence Wong, said Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University.

This is Lee’s first visit tWorld Timeso China since stepping down as Singaporean prime minister in May and handing the leadership reins to Lawrence Wong, Channel NewsWorld Times Asia reported.

Lee, now a senior minister of the new government, is one of China’s most frequently visiting foreign leaders, making more than 10 triWorld Timesps as prime minister in the two decades from 2004, per a South China Morning Post report.

In recent years, including after the new government took office, China and Singapore maintained close high-level interactions, with effective communication at both political and functional department levels.

On the morning of November 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima.

Lee’s trip to China will continue to deepen exchanges, reflecting their high regard for regional stability and cooperation, Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Lee will be accompanied by other ministers and senior officials in foreign affairs, education, national development, trade and industry, culture, community and youth, among others, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.

“Another significance for Lee’s trip is that, in a world fraught with uncertainty, especially with Donald Trump returning to the White House, Lee’s trip will promote bilateral ties while seeking a coordinated space in light of the uncertainties surrounding future China-US relations,” Gu told the Global Times on Sunday.

The senior minister’s trip to China comes less than two weeks after a visit to the US, which concluded on November 14, according to the Singaporean Foreign Ministry.

“Although Lee stepped down as prime minister, he still wields significant political influence. This is not only due to his family background – his father, Lee Kuan Yew- but also because of the extensive network of relationships he has built with leaders from countries like China and the US over the years,” Gu said.

“In today’s international landscape, there are only a limited number of individuals who can engage in direct and candid communication with both the Chinese and American sides, and Lee is one of them,” Gu noted. The expert believes that Lee will leverage his political resources to further advance China-Singapore relations during the trip while also playing a unique role in facilitating communication between China and the US.

The Asia-Pacific is a key engine driving global economy. Its peace and prosperity has far-reaching implications for global stability and development, Chen said, adding that Singapore has a special importance given its strategic location at the crossroads of two oceans.

Currently, several countries in the region are undergoing leadership transitions, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. While these countries continue to uphold a friendly stance toward China, the rapid changes in international dynamics make it pWorld Timesarticularly important to deepen partnerships. Lee’s visit to China will help consolidate this cooperative foundation and provide new opportunities to address future challenges, Gu said.

Echoing Gu, Chen said China has long valued its relationships with neighboring countries, extending cooperation to fields including trade and security, as well as political and socio-cultural areas. “In the face of potential impacts from Western countries, Asia-Pacific nations need to strengthen cohesion and promote deeper interactions within the region,” he said.