Premier Wen Jiabao and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
agreed yesterday to jointly develop an environmentally friendly
city in northeastern China.
The city will be a model for sustainable development, a
Singapore government statement said. The "Sino-Singapore Tianjin
Eco-city" will be developed by a joint venture formed by Chinese
and Singapore companies.
"This eco-city, to be built in Tianjin, will become another
highlight in our relations," Wen said after signing an agreement
with Lee, who concurred: "On the Singapore side, on all levels,
we'll give this project our full support."
The two sides will share expertise and experiences in urban
planning, environmental protection, resources conservation,
recycling, use of renewable resources and wastewater re-use, the
statement said.
China's economic planning agency issued a set of guidelines
earlier this month welcoming foreign investment in environmentally
friendly areas such as recycling, "clean" industries and
environmental protection.
Bilateral relations between China and Singapore have seen big
progress even though the two countries established diplomatic ties
only 17 years ago, Wen said during his talks with Lee.
China and Singapore have also kept close contact and
coordination on regional issues, he added. Wen said China and
Singapore are both important Asian countries that share common
interests in many areas.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and
international issues of mutual interest, including the situation in
Myanmar.
National reconciliation should be restored and peace, stability
and development should be ensured in Myanmar through the mediation
of the United Nations and through its own efforts as well, Wen told
a press briefing after the talks.
Wen arrived in Singapore yesterday for an official visit to the
country. It is the first visit by a Chinese premier to Singapore in
eight years.
Today Wen will attend the 11th ASEAN (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations) Plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea)
Summit, the 11th China-ASEAN Summit, the third East Asia Summit,
and the eighth annual meeting of the leaders of China, Japan and
the Republic of Korea.
In the arrival statement, Wen said he is looking forward to
attending the meetings and "exchanging views with the leaders of
other countries on ways to deepen East Asian cooperation so as to
contribute to the building of a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous
Asia."
Wen is also expected to meet Japanese counterpart Fukuda Yasuo
on the sidelines of the series of meetings.
(Shanghai Daily November 19, 2007)
