Singapore and China discuss ties, plan reciprocal 30-day visa-free entry

Amid positive signs that relations between Beijing and Washington are stabilising, China and Singapore discussed ways to strengthen ties during a visit by the city-state’s prime minister-in-waiting. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and China’s economic czar, Vice Premier He Lifeng discussed cooperation in financial sectors, including initiatives to strengthen market connectivity and linkages. Singapore and China will implement a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement, media reported on Thursday, citing Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Wong, who is also Singapore’s finance minister, is visiting Tianjin city and Beijing, according to Singapore’s main Chinese language paper, Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times. He said personnel exchanges between the two sides were increasing with flights between both countries recovering to close to pre-pandemic levels, Lianhe Zaobao reported. “The 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement between our two countries will also support such progress, which can promote more personnel exchanges and strengthen the cornerstone of bilateral relations,” he said. Earlier this year, China resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore, more than three years after the visas were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China has been keen for the agreement to become reciprocal, Reuters reported in May, citing Beijing’s embassy. With inputs from Reuters.