SINGAPORE: Singapore and China will deepen their cooperation on key areas of education, intellectual property and tax under three agreements signed on Monday.
From next year, up to 16 scholarships will be offered to government officials from both sides under the Singapore-China Foundation. This allows them to pursue post graduate studies in each other's countries.
The agreement doubles the number of scholarships offered under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2004.
To date, the foundation has given out over 50 scholarships for courses at Peking University, National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University.
In another MOU signed on Monday, both sides also agreed on a broad framework on intellectual property rights. The MOU will provide for a standard set of terms and conditions relating to the ownership, protection and commercialisation of intellectual property in joint science and technology projects.
The signing of the agreements was witnessed by Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.
Mr Wang is in Singapore for a series of high-level talks, with the focus on two bilateral flagship projects - the Suzhou Industrial Park in China's Jiangsu province and the Tianjin Eco-city project.
The Suzhou Industrial Park, now into its 15th year, has enjoyed strong growth for the past five years. Since 2004, output has grown by up to 20 per cent to nearly US$15 billion.
But its fortunes have taken a dip with the global recession. The Park posted an annual GDP growth of 9.7 per cent in the first six months of this year, reaching just over US$8 billion.
At their meeting on Monday, Mr Wong and Mr Wang reiterated their commitment to the project. But they said it is time to review the Park's growth strategy to keep pace with China's developmental needs.
This includes bringing in new industries while keeping business costs low, said
Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who is also a co-chairman of the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council.
"You have to let go of industries which are lower value-added and ship them out of Suzhou, but at the same time you yourself must build up capabilities so that investors will come and invest in your new capabilities, which your higher costs will still justify," he said.
On the Tianjin Eco-city project, which broke ground last September, the leaders said the emphasis will be on attracting investments - including offering incentives for companies to set up shop there.
Another area of focus is what officials call "software" development - that is policies and programmes that can be replicated in other cities.
"Hard work no doubt, teething problems, there will be. But if we know what they are, we're willing to overcome them, we will make it work. And it requires constant review, and effort on all sides," said Mr Wong.
Mr Wong and Mr Wang are the chairmen of a high-level council on economic cooperation - the Joint Council on Bilateral Cooperation.
The two leaders also agreed to review and expand the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement inked last year.
Senior officials on both sides have been quick to stress that the Suzhou and Tianjin projects are just two items in a long-standing friendship that spans a wide range of areas, including education and cultural exchanges.
Singapore and China mark 20 years of diplomatic relations next year, and their leaders say the recently-concluded talks in Singapore will add a further boost to bilateral ties.
Monday was a busy day for Mr Wang. After signing a number of agreements and meeting the media, the visiting Chinese vice-premier also called on Singapore's leaders.
Mr Wang called on and was hosted to lunch by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the St Regis Singapore. There, the two leaders exchanged views on the evolution and strengthening of Singapore-China relations over the years as well as how bilateral cooperation could be further broadened.
In the evening, the Chinese vice-premier called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana where they exchanged views on the global and regional economy as well as the challenges in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Mr Lee then hosted Mr Wang to a dinner.
The two leaders also affirmed the close Singapore-China ties and discussed how cooperation could be further enhanced.
- CNA/yb/ir
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