Singapore Foreign Minister Thanks China For Not Hesitating To Lend a Helping Hand

On April 28, 2020, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with Singaporean Foreign Minister Wei Wen.
Wang Yi said that at the difficult time for China to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, the new party has provided support and assistance. There are new challenges in the current situation of New Zealand’s epidemic. China is willing to continue to provide medical supplies to New Zealand and provide convenience in inspection, quarantine and customs clearance. This year is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. The two sides should maintain mutual political trust and promote better development of bilateral relations.
Wang Yi said that the new party has recently taken decisive measures to effectively control the new wave of epidemic spread and stabilize people’s hearts. It is believed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore will eventually overcome the epidemic completely. There are many Chinese students and migrant workers in China, and the Chinese government is very concerned about their health and safety. I believe that the new party will definitely detect and treat them in time to ensure their legitimate rights and interests.
Wang Yi said that China is willing to strengthen consultations with New Zealand to discuss the establishment of a “fast track” for necessary personnel exchanges and a “green channel” for transporting urgently needed medical supplies. Against the background of normalization of the epidemic situation, we will resolutely prevent the rebound of the epidemic situation, maintain the results of the anti-epidemic situation, and realize the economic cycle in East Asia to ensure the stability of the supply chain industry chain. This is in the common interest of East Asian countries, including China and Singapore. A few days ago, the ASEAN and China, Japan, and South Korea (10 + 3) special meeting on leaders to combat the COVID-19 epidemic was successfully held and important consensus was reached. In the next stage, all parties should hold a 10 + 3 special foreign ministers ‘meeting as soon as possible to implement the results of the leaders’ meeting.
Weiwen said that suffering is true. As a trusted friend of Singapore, China stands firmly with Singapore and does not hesitate to lend a helping hand. We are deeply grateful. China successfully responded to the challenge of the epidemic and promoted the resumption of production in an orderly manner, which brought hope to all countries to overcome the epidemic and was admirable. New Zealand is responding to a new wave of epidemics. We attach great importance to the health and safety of citizens in New China and have taken effective measures to ensure their legitimate rights and interests. The new side will firmly adhere to the one-China policy and there will be no changes on this issue of principle.
Weiwen said that New Zealand is willing to actively promote the establishment of a “fast track” for necessary personnel exchanges and a “green channel” for material transportation with China. Both parties should strive to coordinate testing reagent standards, ensure the smooth supply chain industry chain, and provide examples for ASEAN countries, 10 + 3 countries and the world. New Zealand is also willing to work with China to defend multilateralism, eliminate non-tariff barriers, and maintain the global free trade system with the World Trade Organization as its core. New Zealand is in favor of holding a 10 + 3 foreign ministers ‘meeting as soon as possible to promote the implementation of the consensus of the leaders’ meeting.