| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: China and Singapore have taken another step towards closer ties with the signing of four agreements on Thursday.
Chinese President Hu Jintao who is on a state visit to Singapore, met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday morning.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of the agreements. One of them links Singapore's fourth public university - Singapore University of Technology and Design - with China's Zhejiang University.
The Chinese institution, which is known for its engineering and design, is located in Hangzhou, one of the country's fastest-growing cities.
And students will go on industrial attachments there.
"They will get to know the Chinese market much better, and what sort of products and the designs that you inject into the products, and to be able to sell to the markets in China," said Fang Ai Lian, Board of Trustees, Singapore University of Technology and Design.
Officials have also agreed to set up a China Cultural Centre in Singapore.
There are currently seven such centres around the world and their function is to promote a deeper cultural understanding of China, and closer ties with the Chinese.
Officials hope the centre in Singapore will become a focal point of Chinese arts and cultural exchanges, with exhibitions, film screenings and even regular classes in calligraphy and wushu.
China's loan of two pandas to Singapore was also formalised after six months of talks.
"Among all the countries we've negotiated panda loans with, Singapore took the shortest time. This shows the warm feelings that the Chinese government has for Singapore," said Zhao Xuemin, who chairs the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
Wildlife Reserves Singapore has about two years to get its panda enclosure ready, with the help of experts from the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The China Wildlife Conservation Association said the male panda is two years old, while the female is one year old.
Wildlife Reserves Singapore said it plans to study the animals' dietary requirements and the way they live.
China and Singapore also signed a new five-year framework agreement on exchanges between government officials.
President Hu later also met Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
During the meeting, SM Goh and President Hu reaffirmed the close bilateral cooperation between Singapore and China.
They discussed the good progress which had been achieved in the four pillars of cooperation that were proposed by then-VP Hu to then-PM Goh during the former's visit to Singapore in 2002.
Mr Goh and President Hu also exchanged views on the areas in which the two countries could further strengthen cooperation, including sustainable development and the financial sector. - CNA/so/ls
|
