During Budget 2018, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was asked about the state of Singapore's bilateral relations with China.

This was what he told the Parliament in March:

"With China, our relations, our track record of cooperation is deep, longstanding, and substantive. Last September, Prime Minister Lee visited Beijing at China’s invitation. The timing was significant; it was just a couple of weeks before China’s 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We didn’t expect that they would have the bandwidth; nonetheless they invited the Prime Minister."

Indeed, actions speak louder than words, as the meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vivian began with a warm hug.

The meeting came ahead of the China-Asean foreign ministers meeting in Singapore and the foreign minister meetings of the East Asia Summit.

*Hugs*

In a Facebook post, Balakrishnan said that both the ministers "reviewed the progress in Asean-China relations over the past three years and had good discussions on future areas of cooperation."

Wang Yi: China willing to cooperate with Singapore to fight trade protectionism

The visiting Chinese State Councilor, who has been foreign minister since 2013, told Chinese state-run press agency Xinhua that China is willing to cooperate with Singapore to send clear messages of adhering to multilateralism and fighting against unilateralism and trade protectionism.

Wang praised Singapore's part in pushing forward the bilateral ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as the China-Asean country coordinator for the past three years, and made clear that China always supports the regional cooperative course of the East Asia with the Asean at its core.

Wang told Xinhua:

"With growing uncertain and unstable factors in the world, we should make concerted efforts to ensure East Asia's peace and stability as well as maintain its momentum of marching forward".

Wang is on a six-day visit to both Malaysia and Singapore, where he will meet top leaders of both countries as well as attend the Asean-China foreign ministers' meeting.

Vivian met Wang thrice in 2017

Vivian has met Wang thrice in 2017, including once in Beijing on the sidelines of the 13th round of the bilateral Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).

https://www.facebook.com/Vivian.Balakrishnan.Sg/photos/a.10151645060016207.1073741855.30332546206/10154498108361207/

But none have resulted in hugs until this meeting.

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