China to work with Singapore to safeguard rule-based multilateral trade system

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Singapore to safeguard the rule-based multilateral trade system, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in Beijing on Thursday.

Noting China's opening up has not only enhanced the well-being of its own people but also created tremendous opportunities for the world's development, Li said China will open its door wider and welcome enterprises from all over the world, including Singapore, to expand their investment in China.

China will continue to treat domestic and foreign-funded enterprises equally, constantly optimize the business environment, encourage fair competition and cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, Li said.

Li said China stands ready to work with Singapore to maintain close high-level exchanges, better integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with Singapore's development strategy and deepen bilateral cooperation on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and in areas such as third-party markets, trade and investment, finance and smart city.

Heng said as next year marks the 30th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations, Singapore is willing to work with China in maintaining close high-level exchanges, boosting pragmatic cooperation and advancing bilateral relations in the new era.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Heng in Beijing on Thursday.