Connectivity initiative shows strength of Singapore-China ties, says Singaporean official

SINGAPORE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI), launched in 2015, exemplifies the strength of the Singapore-China partnership and their shared commitment to regional integration and innovation, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said Wednesday.

Tan made the remarks at the CCI-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Trade and Financial Conference, one of a series of events commemorating the 10th anniversary of the CCI. The conference brought together government officials, industry leaders, and experts from Singapore, China, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Tan said trade between ASEAN and China is expected to continue expanding, offering growing opportunities for trade and cross-border financing along the corridor.

Vice Mayor of Chongqing Xu Jian said that over the past decade, the corridor has become a crucial link connecting western China with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and beyond.

As the global economic landscape undergoes profound transformation, regional cooperation is gaining fresh momentum, Xu said, noting that the corridor is poised to play an increasingly important role in advancing regional economic integration, facilitating trade, and enhancing financial cooperation.

Leong Sing Chiong, deputy managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said trade volumes in both directions have seen sustained growth since the launch of the CCI, with finance playing a key enabling role.

"As CCI enters the next decade, we look to how western China and ASEAN can deepen cooperation, harness key structural trends, and identify new opportunities in future-oriented areas such as green finance and digital connections," he said.■