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eventual opening in September 1981 of trade offices in both countries. Lee Kuan Yew visited Peking again
Peking again in November 1980. This was followed by a visit by the Chinese Premier, Zhao Ziyang, to Singapore in August 1981. A visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wu Xueqian, in January 1985, restored the momentum of visits. Wu showed particular interest in Singapore's experience in public housing, port management and industrial development - all of which are directly relevant to China's modernisation programme. Singapore Airlines and the Chinese national carrier, CAAC, subsequently reached agreement on the inauguration of air services between Singapore and China. These started in May 1985. Dr Goh Keng Swee, Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, was appointed in mid-1985 economic consultant for the development of China's coastal areas (see Annex, paragraph 2).
19.
During his third visit to China in September 1985, Lee emphasised the growth of economic exchanges and the scope for further expansion of these by taking advantage of
of geographical proximity and linguistic affinity. In a speech at a dinner given in his honour during his tour, Lee Kuan
Lee Kuan Yew said, "You are welcome to any help, example or model
model which we can give you which you think will be valuable to you.
He later added, "All will be well provided we are not favoured because we are adopted sons but because we offer the best terms. As a result of that visit a number of cooperative arrangements were made in trade and commerce as well as in cultural fields (see Annex, paragraphs 4-6).
"I
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20. Lee Kuan Yew's visit was followed in November by the visit of a 15-man government delegation to China led by National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan, to sign an investment protection agreement.
(Lee's son, Brigadier General Lee Hsien Loong, was in the party.) A delegation from the National Computer Board and the Singapore Federation of the Computer Industry visited Peking and Shanghai from 18-24 December 1985 to discuss joint software development and collaborative training programmes. China and Singapore signed a double taxation avoidance agreement in April 1986. Chinese visitors to Singapore during the first five months of 1986 included two state councillors, Gu Mu, in February, and Chen Muhua, in May. Gu Mu, State Councillor in charge of China's special economic zones, witnes- sed the signing of an agreement on cooperation in tourism, civil aviation and exhibitions and reviewed other potential areas of cooperation. Chen Muhua, who is
Chen Muhua, who is president of the People's Bank of China, discussed financial cooperation during her visit. From the Singaporean side, Mr Ong Teng Cheong, Second Deputy Prime Minister, made a goodwill visit to China in late May
The first meeting of the China-Singapore joint committee for tourism cooperation was held in Peking in late June.
Reciprocal Representation
early June.
21. At present, Singapore has no official relations with the PRC. The Singaporeans maintain their position that they will be the last ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with China.
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