Vice Premier Wu Yi arrived in Singapore on Monday afternoon for a four-day visit to the city-state at the invitation of her Singaporean counterpart Wong Kan Seng.

 

During the visit, Wu and Wong will co-chair the ninth meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the Suzhou Industrial Park on Tuesday, a joint venture between the two governments, and the fourth Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting on Wednesday.

 

Wu will also meet with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to discuss issues of common interest.

 

At the Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Committee meeting, the two sides will review the progress of the Park, and chart new directions to promote its further growth.

 

Wednesday's Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting will discuss new areas of cooperation between the two countries, including the proposed "Eco-City" first raised during Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's visit to China in April 2007.

 

The annual high-level economic meeting is the fourth since the inaugural one held in the Chinese city of Suzhou in 2004 and co-chaired by Wu and Singapore's then deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

 

Several memorandum of understandings on bilateral cooperation in areas such as human resource development, health, environmental and water resources will also be signed at the forthcoming meeting.

 

On Wednesday, Wu will also address a Gala Lunch which will be hosted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

It is the Chinese vice premier's second visit to Singapore since 2005.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2007)