Chinese defence minister calls on PM Wong; both reaffirm warm China-Singapore relationship

SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and China's Defence Minister Dong Jun reaffirmed the longstanding and warm bilateral relationship between the two countries when they met at the Istana on Friday (May 31).

Mr Dong called on Mr Wong as part of his introductory visit to Singapore.

"They welcomed the regular interactions between the defence establishments, including high-level visits, military-to-military interactions and academic exchanges," Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a media release.

It added that the two leaders also exchanged views on global and regional security developments, as well as discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and build mutual trust in the region.

Mr Dong was welcomed on Thursday by a guard of honour at MINDEF, before co-chairing the third Singapore-China Defence Ministers’ Dialogue with Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.

He will also attend the Shangri-La Dialogue which begins on Friday, with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin also in Singapore for the event.

The annual security forum brings together defence chiefs from around the world and has, in recent years, become a barometer of US-China relations.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday, making him the first Philippine head of state to do so at Asia's top defence summit.

Other speakers at the annual security forum include Indonesian Defence Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto. He will deliver a special address on Jun 1.

Mr Prabowo will also meet Mr Wong during his visit.