Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Hamburg, Germany, July 6, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi meets with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before opening of G20 Summit

China and Singapore should continue to support each other on issues related to their own core interests and major concerns, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi, meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Hamburg ahead of the Group of 20 Summit opening, said China attaches great importance to developing close relations with Singapore and would like to advance their ties.

Singapore was among the nonmember countries and organizations invited to the summit by the host, Germany, as a partner to the G20 process.

Currently China is the largest trade partner of Singapore, and Singapore has become one of China's top 10 trade partners.

Xi cited construction, trade, investment and finance as areas in which the two countries should deepen cooperation, adding that they should also work together on cyberspace and information technology.

Lee said Singapore will continue supporting and participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and would implement major projects between the two governments. Singapore also will expand cooperation in areas including finance, high-speed railways and free-trade zone construction, Lee added.

China is not only Singapore's largest destination for outbound investment but also Singapore's largest source of foreign visitors.

Last month, the two sides held their third round of negotiations on upgrading free trade zone cooperation.

Xi said the two nations have a traditional friendship, have seen fruitful outcomes from their cooperation and have learned from each other.

Xi said they should boost bilateral exchange programs involving teenagers and college students. They should also increase visits by citizens and enhance public opinion about each other, he added.

Xi said they should enhance coordination within multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group and the G20, to improve global governance.

This year, Singapore is coordinator of the relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Singapore will assume ASEAN's presidency next year.

Xi said China supports Singapore's work, and believes that Singapore will help improve China-ASEAN pragmatic cooperation, jointly navigate the regional integration process and build up the China-ASEAN community of shared destiny.

Lee said Singapore would like to play a positive role in promoting China-ASEAN relations.

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