Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, on his first official visit to China since taking office, met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Monday, June 23 to reaffirm the longstanding ties between the two nations.
During their meeting, Wong emphasised the importance of maintaining and nurturing the mutual trust and understanding that have long served as the foundation of the Singapore-China relationship.
“Good discussions with key representatives from leading Chinese enterprises, many of whom are expanding their global footprint. We welcome them to use Singapore as a base to grow their presence in the region and beyond,” Prime Minister Wong posted on X.
He highlighted that such trust must be continuously cultivated across generations, adding that he looks forward to developing a strong rapport with his Chinese counterpart.
Li acknowledged the significance of Wong choosing China as his first overseas destination beyond ASEAN after winning the general election in May, describing it as a reflection of the new Singapore government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Arrived in Beijing to begin my official visit to China, and was warmly received by the Minister of Justice He Rong. Looking forward to the days ahead — a full schedule of engagements and the opportunity to deepen our longstanding partnership with China. pic.twitter.com/GopZIhvOf5
— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) June 23, 2025
Wong, who led a delegation including both seasoned and newly elected members of his Cabinet, said he was encouraging his ministers to continue visiting China regularly to deepen ties.
The Singapore delegation includes Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Member of Parliament Syed Harun Alhabsyi. Both Siow and Syed are first-time MPs, having entered politics in the 2025 elections.
The leaders also addressed the broader international climate, agreeing on the need for greater collaboration amid global instability and uncertainty.
China has made great strides in emerging technologies, especially in AI and robotics.
— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) June 23, 2025
Visited the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre (X-Humanoid) to learn more about their cutting-edge R&D and how these innovations can be applied to real-world needs. pic.twitter.com/qDCXDmdgip
Li described the current world situation as increasingly chaotic and unstable, and called for deeper cooperation between China and Singapore. Wong echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation during such times.
Wong and Li last met formally in October 2024 during the ASEAN Summit in Laos, and more recently had a brief exchange in May 2025 at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur. As part of his ongoing visit, Wong is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and National People’s Congress chairman Zhao Leji on June 24.
