Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security,
Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education,
Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry,
Business China Board Members,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
- Good morning and a warm welcome to the Inaugural Business China Distinguished Leaders (Closed-Door) Dialogue. I’m very pleased to see many familiar faces in the audience.
- We want to especially thank SM Teo for agreeing to share with us, his thoughts on the topic of “Challenges and Opportunities in a multi-polar world”. We value SM’s insights as we prepare ourselves to usher in a new decade beginning with year 2020.
- SM Teo needs little introduction. He first entered politics in December 1992. Throughout his illustrious political career spanning 28 years, SM has taken up numerous portfolios in finance, home affairs, defence, education and environment. As to be expected, SM Teo has met with many world leaders throughout the continents.
- For the purpose of our discussions today, I would just want to mention that SM Teo has been, in my view, our key leader charting the course of bilateral relations between Singapore and China. SM Teo started co-chairing the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) since 2009. During his period, he has developed closed working and personal relations with three Vice Premiers of China: Wang Qi Shan, Zhang Gao Li and Han Zheng.
- Resulting, Singapore-China bilateral relations has blossomed. It is multi-faceted and in Chinese word: “An evolving strategic and comprehensive partnership”. China has become our largest trading partner and source of tourists. Singapore has been, for a number of years, the largest source of FDI into China. Our interactions with China expanded into many areas including culture, leadership development, security and defence and third country cooperation.
- Business China’s mission is to help increase the pool of bilingual and bi-cultural talents well versed with Chinese economy and business opportunities. And yet, understanding of China cannot be accomplished in isolation without knowing how China will react to the world and vice versa.
- The latest issue of the Economy has this title for its cover story “China and America- Poles apart. The planet’s biggest breakup is under way. It will reshape the world economy – and cost a fortune”. Is the trade war a political gesturing last till 20 Nov 2020, the date of America Presidential election, or is the shift in tectonic plates irreversible? Is the world becoming bipolar or multi-polar? Will the next 10 years be tougher than the immediate past decade?
- We are therefore very pleased and honoured that SM Teo is speaking on the topic of “Challenges and Opportunities in a multi-polar world “. We also want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for SM Teo for being an ardent supporter to Business China’s initiatives. SM was very generous with his guidance for our work in Business China. He was also the Keynote Speaker at the Future China Global Forum 2016, 2017 and 2018 amongst others. SM Teo greatly raised the profile of the FCGF with his esteemed presence.
- Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming SM Teo to address us.