Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has highlighted trust-building and cooperation in meetings with his Singaporean and Cambodian counterparts on Sunday.
"Relations between China and Singapore have experienced ups and downs. But close exchanges between the two countries' leaders recently have enhanced mutual trust of the two countries, which is essential to healthy bilateral relations between China and Singapore," Wang said while meeting with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishan on the sidelines of a series of the foreign ministers' meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He spoke highly of Singapore's role as a coordinator of China-ASEAN ties, praising Singapore for its efforts in promoting ASEAN community building and advancing relations between China and ASEAN.
"Singapore will be the chair of ASEAN next year. We believe Singapore will play a more constructive role in promoting ASEAN community building and advancing China-ASEAN relations," Wang said.
He stressed that China and ASEAN must work together to enhance trust, dispel unnecessary misgivings and focus on mutual beneficial cooperation, which is line with the common interests of all the countries in the region.
For his part, Balakrishan said Singapore is full of confidence and expectations in Singapore-China relationship, expecting to strengthen and deepen the bilateral ties through cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
He said ASEAN-China relations have seen important and positive progress over the past year and the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized. Singapore will continue to do its best and play its due role as a coordinator.
