Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said in Singapore on Thursday that he expects further enhancement of bilateral ties between Singapore and China.

 

At a meeting with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, Lee said Singapore has been attaching great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with China and the two countries have made marked progress in their bilateral ties, economic and trade cooperation, as well as in cultural exchanges.

 

The two economies are highly supplementary, which is an exceptional advantage for the two sides to deepen their mutually beneficial collaboration, he added.

 

Noting that defense ties are an important part of bilateral relations, Lee hoped that the two armed forces will keep in contact with each other and further strengthen their cooperation.

 

Cao praised Lee for his great contribution to the development of China-Singapore relationship, saying that Lee is an old friend of both Chinese people and Chinese leaders.

 

The bilateral relations between China and Singapore have grown rapidly, thanks to the common efforts made by the two peoples and the impetus given by leaders of the two countries, Cao noted.

 

He added that China is willing to cooperate with Singapore to push forward the relations between the two countries and between the two armies, and to play an active role in maintaining regional security and stability.

 

Cao, who is also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China and a State Councilor, arrived here earlier on the day for a three-day official goodwill visit to the city state at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Teo Chee Hean.

 

This is the fourth leg of Cao' tour to five Asian countries, which includes North Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and South Korea.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2006)