President Tharman and Prime Minister Wong congratulate China’s top leaders on the 75th National Day

SINGAPORE – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sent congratulations to the leadership of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

In his letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tharman said China’s development was impressive.

“More than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty and the country’s modernization has been extraordinary. China has made important global contributions in the fields of science, sustainable development, art and culture,” he said.

He added that the foundation of Singapore-China relations is strong economic ties, multi-faceted cooperation and close people-to-people ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on October 1.

“An example of our substantive partnership are three projects between governments in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing,” Tharman said.

He added that this year marks 30 years since the establishment of the Suzhou Industrial Park.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we should chart the course for our cooperation over the next several decades,” Tharman said.

“I look forward to further improving connections between Singapore and China. This will pave the way for even closer cooperation and mutual understanding.”

In 2025, Singapore and Beijing will celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations, and Tharman said he welcomes Xi to visit Singapore to mark this important occasion.

“I look forward to working together to further strengthen the friendship between our nations, in the spirit of our ‘comprehensive, high-quality, future-oriented partnership,’” he said.

Tharman concluded his letter with wishes for continued peace, stability and prosperity in China, adding that he and his wife looked forward to meeting Mr. Xi and his wife, Ms. Peng Liyuan.

Prime Minister Wong, in his letter to Chinese Premier Li Qiang, on behalf of all Singaporeans, congratulated China on its rise.

He added that China has made great strides to become one of the largest and most important economies in the world.

He said: “During my visits over the years, I have witnessed firsthand China’s impressive progress in many sectors, including rural revitalization, digital economy, advanced manufacturing and environmental sustainability.”

He added that Singapore and China have warm and substantive relations.

“In line with our ‘comprehensive, high-quality, future-oriented partnership,’ bilateral cooperation has been mutually beneficial and looks forward to the future,” he said.

Prime Minister Wong, who is also Finance Minister, said: “We continue to strengthen our existing areas of cooperation, including by working to substantively modernize the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

“We have also expanded our cooperation to cover emerging sectors such as the digital and green economies.”