Singapore leader’s visit gives China chance to pitch itself as reliable partner for Asean
Lawrence Wong’s visit takes place under the shadow of threatened US tariffs that have given Beijing an opening to rally support
China will also be keen to reassure Singapore that the Chinese economy is “back on track” as it gears up for a trade war with the United States, according to analysts.
“China looks forward to using this visit to further enhance strategic communication with Singapore, deepen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade and to advance bilateral relations to greater heights,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Dylan Loh, assistant professor of foreign policy at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said trade and economic cooperation were expected to dominate the agenda.