PM Lee Hsien Loong wrapped up his visit to China today in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

Speaking to the Singapore media on his assessment of his trip, PM Lee made a number of points which we summarised below:

1. Chinese leaders are keen on improving relations.

Commenting on his interactions with four of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, PM Lee said that the Chinese leaders were keen on improving bilateral ties.

Despite bilateral relations going through some up and down last year, PM Lee said that "both sides would like to look forward and take them (bilateral relations) forward".

"It is a good visit. It comes at a busy time for China just before their 19th Party Congress. I am very appreciative that they have made the time and been able to host us now when they must have many other things on their minds but the leaders I met were keen on improving relations, they gave a positive assessment for our relations and they would like to do more together because they see us as having a basic alignment of our interest and our overall objectives."

2. Bilateral relations are good but changing.

He also noted how Singapore's role has changed over the years as China progressed over the years.

"The situation changed. In the old days, China was in a different place. Singapore was able to play a different role because China had not yet opened up.  We were able to help them in this process. Now they are in a much more developed situation. Many more links with all the major players but Singapore needs to be able to continue to add value to China in order for the relationship to be worthwhile for both sides. And that is what they are trying to do when we have new G-to-G cooperation projects."

3. Bilateral interests will never be perfectly aligned.

PM Lee also said that it is to be expected that there will be issues from time to time, as "we are two different countries and never will you see interests perfectly aligned".

And the other reason is also because Singapore is in Southeast Asia and we are a multiracial country.

"From the Chinese point of view, yes you are a different country but you are also the one which has the most cultural affinity with China. So for us to take advantage of that cultural affinity, and at the same time be able to maintain a distinct identity and be quite clear that we are multiracial and we are not a Chinese society, I think that is something which we will continue to have to manage and continue to have to try to maintain in China. It is one of the reasons why, whenever I come, if at all possible, I bring along in my delegation non-Chinese ministers or appointment holders. It visibly shows that we are different but we are friendly."

[related_story]

4. A relationship which needs to be nurtured and cultivated continually

Besides veterans like Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, PM Lee is also accompanied on this China visit by members from the new generation of leaders and junior political office-holders, including Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Chan Chun Sing and Home Affairs and Health Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin.

Chan and Heng are members of the core team forming our next generation leadership. Their presence in Beijing is a sign that they are being groomed along with other 4G leaders to manage one of our most important bilateral relationships.

This was how PM Lee explained the frequency of his visits and the choice of younger Ministers accompanying him:

"...there are things going on all over China and it is important to us to keep up to date and to know what is happening and to keep in touch and renew our ties and our exchanges with the leaders at many levels. And it has to be also taken forward from generation to generation. So this time I brought along younger ministers with me. This is a relationship which needs to be nurtured and cultivated continually. "

Top images from PM Facebook