The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released yesterday (6 February) that Singapore President Halimah Yacob visited Beijing, China from 3 February to 6 February to attend the Winter Olympic Games after being invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Halimah congratulated China on their successful hosting of the Winter Olympic Games and during the meeting between the two presidents, they agreed that both countries should continue to improve on their bilateral relations by working closely together.
Both leaders affirmed that both countries should step up on collaboration on areas such as the government to government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing, which are progressing well, according to MFA.
The two leaders also looked forward to the resumption of air connectivity as well as working more closely together in areas like the digital economy, the green economy and smart cities.
President Halimah also met up with Li Keqiang, the Chinese premier, on 5 February, where she appreciated the “unifying power” of the Olympic games that seek to unite athletes around the world on a goal towards sporting excellence and sportsmanship.
Here is her Facebook statement in full
Met Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing and affirmed the strong ties between both countries as seen from the good momentum in bilateral cooperation, including in new collaboration areas such as the digital and green economy and sustainable development.
Singapore and China share many areas of commonalities in our development strategies, especially in the pursuit of innovative, sustainable and inclusive development for the benefit of our peoples.
We look forward to greater collaboration as both countries work towards post-pandemic recovery.
I also attended the welcome banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping and Mdm Peng Liyuan. I took the opportunity to catch up with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and Prince Albert II of Monaco, who were seated beside me.
I last met King Norodom at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilisations two years ago in Beijing and am glad to meet up with him again.