Suzhou the spark in Sino-Singapore ties
Every year, delegations from China make the trip here to learn from Singapore and the PAP.
Why the fascination? Petir finds out
The idea seems almost absurd: A country with thousands of years of history learning from one whose existence is measured in mere decades.
Nevertheless, things have reached such a stage between China and Singapore that nearly 4,000 have come for the “mayor’s class”, a masters programme in Managerial Economics that Nanyang Technological University started in 1992 for China officials likely to become mayors.
These days, the Chinese government is focusing on the factors that have kept the PAP in power for 50 years and studying how the Party operates.
The interest in things Singapore was sparked 15 years ago, when the two countries got together to set up the Suzhou Industrial Park. Since then, scholars and journalists besides officials have flocked here to study the Republic’s political system, housing and more.
The friendship, however, goes back to 1978, when China started reforming its economy and looking to learn from others.
That November, vice-premier Deng Xiaoping visited. During his trip, he visited the Jurong Industrial Estate and met with Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee. It led to Dr Goh being appointed economic advisor to the state council of China in 1985.
Serious study began after 1992, when Deng called for China to learn from Singapore’s best practices. The landmark Suzhou project was a result of this.
The park allowed Singapore to share its experience and thinking with China. It also laid the foundation for other bilateral projects between both countries.
The most recent is the plan to develop an eco-friendly township in Tianjin. This builds on Singapore’s expertise in urban planning and infrastructure development.
Ties go beyond such physical developments. In 2002, Zeng Qinghong, an alternative member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the CPC’s Central Committee Secretariat put it in a nutshell when he received in Beijing a delegation led by PAP Central Exco member Lim Swee Say.
He said: “The CPC values learning from the PAP’s experience of governace. This has become an important element of the exchanges between both parties.”
To this end, Chinese officials have sat in at meet-the-people sessions and noted PAP MPs’ familiarity with citizens’ concerns. They have gone back and launched their own regular meetings with the public.
As China’s political reforms continue, they keep returning to observe how Singapore handles other issues.
Milestones
May 10-23, 1976: PM Lee Kuan Yew visits China
Nov 12-24, 1978: Chinese vice-premier Deng Xiaoping visits Singapore
Dec 29, 1979: Singapore and China sign a trade agreement
1981: Trade offices are set up in Beijing and Singapore
Sept 13-25, 1985: PM Lee leads a delegation to China, meets Premier Zhao Ziyang
Aug 1990: Premier Li Peng visits Singapore
Oct 3, 1990: Both countries establish diplomatic relations.
Sept 9 -16, 1991: The first state visit to China by a Singapore president. President Wee Kim Wee meets President Yang Shangkun.
Jan 7, 1991: President Yang leads a delegation to Singapore.
April 1993: PM Goh Chok Tong visits China as prime minister.
Feb 26, 1994: Chinese vice-premier Li Lanqing and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew sign an agreement to jointly develop the Suzhou Industrial Park.
Nov 8, 1994: President Jiang Zemin visits Singapore.
Aug 21-28, 1995: President Ong Teng Cheong and SM Lee visit China.
Nov 29, 1999: Premier Zhu Rongji visits.
Nov 30, 1999: Premier Zhu delivers the Singapore Lecture, speaking on China and Asia in the new century
Oct 25-30, 2005: PM Lee Hsien Loong make his first official visit to China as prime minister
April 2007: Both countries agree to jointly develop an eco city. Tianjin city is selected as the site. An agreement on this is signed in November.
Sept 28, 2008: Eco-city groundbreaking ceremony.
Oct 23, 2008: Singapore becomes the first Asian country to sign a comprehensive bilateral FTA with China.
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