The 13th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting, the 18th China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting, the 9th China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council Meeting, and the First China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Joint Steering Council Meeting were held on Feb 27 in Beijing. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean co-chaired the meetings and delivered opening speeches.

Zhang said that it's of significance to hold the 18th China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting at the same site where "The Agreement on Co-Development and Construction of Suzhou Industrial Park by the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore" was signed on Feb 26, 23 years ago. Over the past 23 years' development, SIP's successful experience in such areas as opening-up & cooperation, in-depth reform and "first try, first pilot" has become precious wealth of both sides, and SIP has become a witness to the friendly cooperation between Chinese and Singaporean governments and friendly exchange between the two peoples. SIP's development practice proves that Chinese and Singaporean leaders' decision on cooperative construction of SIP is right and that the long-term guidance from China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council is effective.

Zhang believed that the meeting would further help SIP play the role of pilot reform field, explore open economy based on new systems, upgrade innovation-driven development level, play an active part in international economic & technological cooperation and competitions, and speed up to establish itself into a domestic and international renowned hi-tech industrial park.

Teo said that SIP is a cornerstone of bilateral relation, that SIP's success has paved the way for the second government-to-government project in Tianjin and the third one in Chongqing, and that SIP will continue to play the role of a pathfinder for bilateral cooperation. He suggested that SIP and IE Singapore support the internationalization of Chinese companies, collaborate on projects in third countries in line with the "Belt and Road" initiative, and work together on research and innovation. He stressed that building on strong foundation and friendship between China and Singapore, the bilateral cooperation will continue to blossom in SIP.

Shi Taifeng, deputy secretary of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and governor of Jiangsu, expressed gratitude to leaders of the two countries and the joint steering council for their support and care to SIP.

Shi briefed that Jiangsu Province is deeply implementing Chinese President Xi Jinping's requirements on Jiangsu, and strengthening cohesive force to innovate, enriching the people, and building with a high standard a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. During the process, SIP, which maintains steady growth in economic development and achieves notable results in reform and innovation, plays a leading role in Jiangsu Province. With the meeting as a turning point, the provincial government will continue to support SIP to deepen opening-up, innovation and comprehensive reform, explore superposition of policies on pilot free trade zone, strengthen on building open economy based on new systems, and accelerate to establish itself into a domestic and international renowned hi-tech industrial park.

In his speech, Qu Futian, deputy secretary of CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee, mayor of Suzhou and Chinese president of SIP Bilateral Work Committee, said that SIP would conduct the new version of development, continue to enrich Sino-Singaporean cooperation connotations, accelerate to build a domestic and international renowned hi-tech industrial park, and strive to be in the forefront of achieving the goal of "strengthening cohesive force to innovate, enriching the people, and building with a high standard a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way" to set an example for the regions of the same kind in the country.

On behalf of the bilateral work committee, Qu asked the joint steering council for policy functions for financial innovation, talent development, copying successful experience of pilot free trade zone, and construction of state-level outbound investment & service platform, etc. 

Chinese and Singaporean leaders gave a full and positive appraisal of SIP achievements in regional economy, opening-up & innovation, transformation & upgrading, construction of livable city, and people's wellbeing since the opening of 17th China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting. In this period, SIP had kept steady growth in economic indices, uplifted quality and efficiency of transformation and upgrading, accelerated the shift in driving forces for development, led the way in reform and innovation, and yielded positive results in relevant "first try, first pilot" policies, and achieved more in cooperation and drawing successful experience from Singapore. Especially in September 2015, the State Council approved the launch of the first national pilot area of opening-up, innovation and comprehensive reform in SIP, signifying a new milestone in the process of SIP's development. Besides, the business performance of China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Development Co., Ltd. (CSSD) maintained a steady growth.

The meeting clarified that policy support would be enhanced to push forward transformation and upgrading and innovation-driven development in SIP. Requirements for SIP included:

1, to make full use of Sino-Singaporean cooperation advantages to secure solid progress in opening-up, innovation and comprehensive reform, in following the "Belt and Road Initiative", in enriching "SIP experience", and in playing a leading role in development.

2, to deepen opening-up, create an international first-rate business environment, grasp opportunities when the global value chain is restructuring, make better use of overseas investment, and try hard to be a pacesetter in building an open economy based on new systems,

3, to implement the strategy of innovation-driven development, pick up speed to build an international opening-up & innovation system, cluster domestic and foreign high-end innovation-driven resources, and create a benign and law-based market, financial, service and cultural environment to shape up a dynamic innovation & start-up eco-system geared to international standards, with improved facilities and for opening up and cooperation.

After the meeting, Chinese and Singaporean leaders witnessed the signing of the letter of intent on in-depth cooperation in bio-med industry between SIP Administrative Committee, National University of Singapore and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology.