Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Wednesday with Senior Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong, who is paying a seven-day visit to China.

 

After an 80-minute meeting, originally scheduled for half an hour, Wen walked Goh out of the meeting room and the two shook hands with broad smiles.

 

The two discussed bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, but no further details were available, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

 

Goh arrived in Beijing Wednesday at the invitation of the Chinese government. On Thursday, he is expected to meet with Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

 

Goh will also visit the resort city of Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province and Shanghai.

 

Singapore is China's seventh biggest trade partner with China-Singapore trade volume last year hitting US$33.15 billion.

 

With investment in China amounting to US$27.74 billion by the end of 2005, Singapore is China's eighth biggest investor.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)