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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
HANGZHOU, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, calling for mutual understanding and respect on issues related to the two countries' core interests and major concerns.
China and Singapore forged a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times last year during Xi's state visit to the Southeast Asian city-state.
Noting the importance of top-level design of bilateral ties, Xi proposed that high-level exchanges be maintained and communication with Singapore strengthened.
China pays great attention to Singapore's interest in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Xi, adding China is ready to build the China-Singapore Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality into a highlight of bilateral ties.
The Chinese president also called for the advancement of two flagship government-to-government cooperative projects, namely the Suzhou Industrial Park established in 1994 in China's eastern province of Jiangsu, and the Tianjin Eco-city inaugurated in 2008 in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.
The two countries should deepen cooperation in areas of finance, the Internet, social management, law enforcement security, counter-terrorism and anti-corruption, said Xi.
Xi expects Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, to push forward the healthy and stable development of China-ASEAN ties.
China, Xi added, is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Singapore in regional and international mechanisms.
For his part, Lee spoke highly of the smooth progress of bilateral cooperation in all areas under the guidance of a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times between the two countries.
Noting that the strategic connectivity project in Chongqing is taking shape, Lee said the two countries should take it as an opportunity to expand cooperation in aviation, finance and connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, is willing to improve cooperation between China and ASEAN, said Lee.
Lee is here to attend the G20 Hangzhou summit on Sept. 4-5.
