Singapore and China established diplomatic relations on 3 October 1990 based on the Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. In the past ten years, Singapore and China have enjoyed a close and longstanding friendship built upon mutual trust and goodwill. The excellent bilateral relations are underpinned by multi-level and broad-based cooperation. Singapore recognizes that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China. The Government of the Republic of Singapore recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

The year 2000 coincides with the 10^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. Desiring to reaffirm their commitment to build on the strong foundation of bilateral ties and to explore new areas of collaboration to further strengthen bilateral relations, Singapore and China have concluded this Joint Statement which will provide a framework for strengthening their bilateral cooperation. Both sides will work towards realizing the initiatives encompassed under the Joint Statement through existing channels and contracts, as well as other necessary means to maximize efficiency and flexibility in the implementation process.

With the aim to further strengthen and deepen our bilateral relations, the two sides agreed to seek cooperation in the following areas:

1. Political: Both sides will have regular exchange of visits between their top leaders and government officials. The two foreign ministries will hold annual bilateral consultations to exchange views in a timely fashion on bilateral and regional issues of common interest to enhance coordination and cooperation. In the meantime, both sides will strengthen consultations and cooperation on issues of common concern at regional and international fora such as the ARF, APEC, ASEM, EALAF, UN and WTO, so as to make due efforts to promoting peace, stability and development in the region.
2. Economic: On the basis of the existing sound cooperation, both sides will seek to promote new forms and areas of cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and human resource development. The two Governments will encourage direct cooperation between enterprises of the two sides and explore collaboration beyond their respective domestic markets. The Chinese side welcomes Singapore enterprises to China to participate, through investment, in the development of China’s western region and explore cooperation in such fields as infrastructure and communications. The two sides will also continue to encourage links between their business sectors, non-governmental groups and youth groups.
3. Defence: Both sides will promote security cooperation by facilitating exchange of high-level visits, dialogue between defence institutions, cooperation between their strategic security research institutes, exchanges between professional groups of their armed forces, and exchange of port calls.
4. Legal Cooperation: Both sides will work to develop closer contacts in the judicial and legal fields, promote understanding of each other’s legal framework structure through the exchange of information as well as visits between their respective judicial and legal organizations, including lawyers and other legal professionals. Both sides will respect each other’s legal systems.
5. Education and Culture: Both sides will facilitate exchange of visits by teachers and students and encourage exchange and cooperation in areas such as traditional Chinese medicine. Both sides will, in the spirit of the MOU on Cultural Cooperation signed in 1996, continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of the arts, heritage and library.
6. Environment: Both sides will continue to enhance cooperation in the areas of environment management and sustainable development, including information exchange and transfer of environment expertise.
7. Transport and Info-communications: Both sides will seek cooperation in maritime and air transport sectors and info-communication industry to take advantage of the growth opportunities presented by the global market.

The Joint Statement, which covers various aspects of bilateral cooperation, does not preclude other areas of cooperation as may be determined from time to time by the two sides.