China-Singapore Cooperation

[Video] Lim Siong Guan: Can Singapore survive?

Singapore’s rise from “unwanted independence” to a trusted global brand was no accident. Former head of the civil service Lim Siong Guan reflects on working with Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee in an interview with ThinkChina’s James Loo, and explains why small states must think long term in a world of unknown unknowns, as well as how culture, trust and a stellar civil service matter more than ever as Singapore navigates great power rivalry and rapid technological change.

James Loo

Lawrence Wong: China at the heart of Asia’s stability and prosperity

China’s growing economic scale, technological innovation and active engagement in trade and regional initiatives make it a crucial force in shaping Asia’s stability, growth and prosperity over the next 25 years. This is the transcript of the speech delivered by Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong at the 2026 Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference on 26 March 2026.

Lawrence Wong

Hainan is where China tests its next opening model

Hainan Free Trade Port is China’s testbed for a new opening model — centred on institutions, ecosystem-building and two-way cooperation. Rather than sidelining Singapore, this points to a broader and more integrated regional economic architecture. Academic Gu Qingyang shares his views.

Gu Qingyang

Why Chinese companies are eyeing SGX again

Chinese firms are returning to Singapore for secondary listings under simplified A-share rules. While governance scandals linger in memory, regulators insist transparency and oversight matter more than the market of choice. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Thomas Li Tao reports.

Thomas Li Tao

How Singapore’s ‘chief architect’ helped shape reform in China

When Singapore’s former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee became an adviser to China in the 1980s, he brought more than policy know-how — he helped shape its reform era. Caixin Global journalists tell us how Goh’s quiet influence has left a lasting mark on both nations.

Caixin Global

Ambassador Cao Zhongming: Why leaders and people alike are key to China-Singapore ties

Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming says the heart of 35 years of China-Singapore ties lies in trust among leaders and warmth between peoples. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao’s Chua Eng Wee, he reflects on the enduring patterns and evolving changes that have shaped the partnership.

Chua Eng Wee

Ambassador Peter Tan: How Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping shaped Singapore–China ties

A small gesture between Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping still shapes Singapore–China ties 35 years on. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Sim Tze Wei speaks with Singapore’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Peter Tan, about diplomacy, respect and life beyond protocol.

Sim Tze Wei

Chin Siat Yoon: 14 years on the front lines of Singapore-China diplomacy

Chin Siat Yoon, Singapore’s longest-serving ambassador to China from 1998 to 2012, is the recipient of the 2025 Business China Excellence Award. Reflecting on decades of Singapore-China relations, he recalls early challenges such as the Suzhou Industrial Park issue and shares insights on building lasting cooperation amid today’s shifting global geopolitical landscape. This is an edited version of his speech.

Chin Siat Yoon

Marking 35 years: Singapore’s grounded approach to China engagement

Singapore and China have committed to deepening their All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership during Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s visit to China. Although Beijing would like Singapore to sign on to its Community of Shared Future vision, it seems receptive to Singapore’s preference for pragmatic cooperation that produces tangible outcomes for the two countries. ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook explains.

Lye Liang Fook

​Can Lee Hsien Loong, China’s ‘old friend’, help navigate US-China relations?

Singapore’s former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent visit to China has shown the significant role he had in promoting China-Singapore relations. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that Lee could continue to play a significant role in the region, especially in China-US relations, even in his current capacity as senior minister.

Han Yong Hong

[Video] Lee Hsien Loong: Adjusting to a bigger, more powerful China

Singapore Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong sat down for a fireside chat at Business China’s FutureChina Global Forum 2024 on 18 October. In the discussion and QnA moderated by Lee Huay Leng, editor-in-chief of Chinese Media Group, SPH Media, SM Lee discussed China’s economy, the process of China and the world re-adjusting to each other, and China’s relationships with the US and Singapore.

ThinkChina

Singapore-China relations under PM Lee Hsien Loong: A steady course of continuity

US academic Zhu Zhiqun reviews Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s tenure over the past 20 years under the prism of Singapore-China relations. He notes that unlike some US allies and partners which have aligned their policies closely with the US to counter China’s rise, Singapore under Prime Minister Lee has skillfully handled great power rivalry and successfully managed friendly relations with both powers.

Zhiqun Zhu