Singapore and Guangdong, China's largest provincial economy and industrial powerhouse, have the potential to expand their collaboration, the leaders of both countries agreed on Wednesday.
This includes collaboration in the Greater Bay Area, which comprises Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau and has been positioned as the nation's major IT and finance centre.
Guangdong will continue to turn to Singapore for suggestions about urban planning and economic growth, as well as the maritime, finance, and manufacturing industries, said Guangdong party secretary Huang Kunming at a meeting in Guangzhou with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
This is because the southern Chinese province continues to pursue what Mr. Huang calls "high-quality growth," which includes a commitment to resolving the "imbalance problem."
In 2022, Guangdong's GDP will be worth 12.8 trillion yuan (S$2.47 trillion), making it the largest in China. However, its gross domestic product expanded by only 1.9% last year, which was lower than Fujian's and Jiangxi's 4.7%, the highest pace in the country.
Guangdong's officials have also recognized the urban-rural split as the greatest obstacle impeding the province's growth.
At an official meeting, PM Lee stated that it had been over a decade since his previous visit to Guangdong, and that this trip had provided him with a solid understanding of the province's growth and changes.
Our ties with China are generally excellent, and we would want to elevate them to the next level now that China has concluded its 20th Party Congress and Lianghui and is moving forward with new policies.
President Xi Jinping gained a third term as general secretary of the Communist Party of China and unveiled a new leadership team during China's twice-decadely political congress in 2022.
Former Shanghai party boss Li Qiang was confirmed as premier during this year's Lianghui, China's annual parliamentary assembly.
Prime Minister Lee, whose trip comprised Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, stated that he had brought a "fantastic team."
He added: “And we look forward to having substantial outcomes from our discussions of the officials preparing for this trip to be delivered.”
PM Lee will meet President Xi on Friday and Premier Li on Saturday, respectively.
Mr. Huang, who was once China's propaganda head and became Guangdong's top official in October of last year, described the province's cooperative initiatives with Singapore as "very remarkable."
Examples include the Guangzhou Knowledge City development initiative, which focuses on scientific and technical innovation, and the Shenzhen Smart City Initiative, which aims to encourage digital innovation, smart city collaboration, and bilateral exchanges.
Mr. Ong and Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong co-chair the Singapore-Guangdong Cooperation Council, through which Singaporean leaders meet often.
During their meeting, PM Lee and Mr. Huang reiterated Singapore and Guangdong's deep and multifaceted connections.
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