BEIJING, June 13 -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with K. Shanmugam, Singaporean minister for foreign affairs and law, here on Friday.

Li said Singapore is an important partner of China, applauding the smooth development of bilateral cooperation in recent years.

Singapore is the largest investor in China and China's second-largest trading partner of the 10 ASEAN countries.

China has always viewed bilateral ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and is willing to work with Singapore to further increase political mutual trust, said Li.

He called on the two sides to advance existing cooperative projects so as to achieve common development.

Shanmugam said Singapore hopes to expand cooperation and lift bilateral relations to a new level.

Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Shanmugam's visit is his third to China in three years as foreign minister.