President pledges regional cooperation in talks with Singaporean, Thai leaders
China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the international
community, including Singapore and Thailand, in fighting the novel
coronavirus pandemic and jointly promoting global public health
security, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.
Xi also vowed to work with the two Southeast Asian nations to
safeguard peace and stability in the region when he held separate
telephone conversations with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
While talking with Lee on the phone, Xi said that, in responding to
the novel coronavirus outbreak, China upholds the vision of the
community with a shared future for mankind and has shared anti-epidemic
experience with other countries without reservations and provided them
with materials and expertise.
China is willing to work with Singapore to support international
solidarity against the virus with the World Health Organization playing a
leading role in the process and jointly build a community of health for
all, he said.
Xi said he appreciated the two countries' help for each other in
combating the epidemic and said China and Singapore took the lead in
establishing a fast-lane to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and
promote stable supply and industrial chains in the region.
He also underlined the need for the two countries to intensify cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.
China will continue to deepen reforms and expand opening-up and
improve its business environment, Xi said, adding that he hopes
Singapore will also provide sound conditions for Chinese companies doing
businesses in the country.
Lee commended China's efforts to successfully contain the virus under
the leadership of Xi while the pandemic is still raging in the world,
and said his country stands ready to strengthen cooperation with China
on the research and development of related vaccines and medicines.
Singapore is willing to work with China to uphold free and open trade
to ensure stable supply and industrial chains in the region, Lee said,
adding that he welcomes Chinese companies to Singapore.
In a telephone conversation with the Thai prime minister, Xi
mentioned the mutual support and assistance between China and Thailand
in the fight against the virus, and he said China stands ready to
strengthen the sharing of experience with Thailand and advance the
resumption of production while preventing and controlling the epidemic.
Saying that the construction of the China-Thailand railway is
proceeding smoothly, Xi called on the two countries to strengthen the
synergy of the BRI with Thailand's development strategies and advance
cooperation in e-commerce in order to make new progress in the
China-Thailand comprehensive strategic partnership.
China is willing to work with Thailand to intensify solidarity with
other countries in the region and uphold the good momentum of regional
development and prosperity, he added.
The Thai prime minister commended the strong leadership of the
Chinese government as well as the people-first philosophy it upholds in
responding to COVID-19, and he appreciated China's commitment to make a
vaccine a global public good once it is successfully developed.
Thailand adheres to the one-China policy and firmly supports China's
efforts in safeguarding its core interests, he said, adding that his
country stands ready to work with China to uphold regional peace and
stability.
Also on Tuesday, Xi congratulated Chandrikapersad Santokhi on his election as Suriname's president.
In a congratulatory message, Xi said he is willing to work with Santokhi to deepen bilateral cooperation.