China, Singapore vow more "Belt and Road" cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore on Monday pledged to strengthen cooperation in the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of a series of high-level cooperative meetings between the two countries.

Stressing the significance of building "a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times", Wang called on both sides to beef up "Belt and Road" cooperation, facilitate regional integration, and promote the building of a closer community of common destiny between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Wang also said he hopes Singapore, a coordinator of China-ASEAN ties, will play a constructive role in helping push for greater development of China's relations with the ASEAN, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Noting that Singapore attaches great importance to its ties with China, Balakrishnan said the country is willing to become China's long-term reliable cooperation partner.

Singapore welcomes Chinese companies to participate in the bidding of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail program, he added.

Singapore is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with China in regional and international affairs, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region, he said.