(以演讲时内容为准)
Our Guest of Honour, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Chairman of Business China, Mr Lee Yi Shyan
Standing Member of the CPC Guangxi Regional Committee and First Vice Governor of Guangxi, Mr Lan Tianli
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Chen Xiaodong
Ministers, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen
1. Good evening. Thank you, Prime Minister, for agreeing to grace this event as our Guest of Honour. Your presence signifies the importance of both Business China and the annual Business China Awards.
2. The discussions over the last two days at FutureChina Global Forum have been fruitful. Participants shared their views on trends and forces shaping China’s transformation – in particular, China’s ambitious ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative. We understand that in 2016 alone, China’s non-financial direct investment into the ‘Belt and Road’ countries hit US$14.5 billion (S$20 billion).
3. The Belt and Road connectivity brings about increased trade, capital, people and wealth flows, which in turn creates new economic activities, and, along with it, social advancements.
4. Singapore is uniquely qualified to play a conduit role for the Belt and Road flows, and OCBC, with our strong presence in Southeast Asia, is likewise uniquely positioned to connect the stakeholders along the Belt and Road.
5. Singapore has a closely-knit yet diverse ecosystem. We can play a crucial role not only in providing and arranging financing, but also in providing advice in hedging, risk mitigation strategies, structuring, documentation, certification, legal, accounting as well as insurance and re-insurance services. OCBC is active in this ecosystem.
6. If you ask “Are you ready?” My answer is “We have already started”. Please allow me to share a few examples.
7. We are the joint lead manager and bookrunner for Chongqing Nan’an Urban Construction & Development’s debut US$800 million bond issuance in Singapore to finance the urban and township development of Nan’an District.
8. We have also been mandated for the provision of financing, advisory and structuring services in multiple infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia – including coal and gas fired power plants in Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam, nickel and bauxite projects in Indonesia, and refineries in Malaysia.
9. Closer to home, we also supported Beijing Enterprises Water Group in the development of water projects.
10. I am excited about the connectivity role that Singapore and OCBC can play between China and Singapore, and for that matter, China and Southeast Asia through Singapore.
11. I am equally excited to recognise tonight’s Business China Award winners. Like the past years’ Award recipients, this year’s winners have played significant roles in creating the linkages and leading by example to strengthen cross border economic, business and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
12. Please now allow me to conclude my remaining remarks in Mandarin, to be consistent with the mission of Business China in nurturing bilingualism and bicultural inclusivity.
13. 密切关系的成长，绝对不会是偶然的，它是双方共同努力的成果。多年来，新中两国的友谊自1990年建交以来，通过真诚的沟通和讨论，达成了今天的互谅和互信，为两国民间和商业的持续发展，得到了进一步的深化。
14. 自1925年以来，华侨银行一直在中国默默的耕耘，把握每一个机遇，开拓中华业务。过去八年，华侨银行与通商中国合办通商中国奖，表扬在新中两国之间有重大贡献的人士和机构。以借此推广两地之间的交流。昨天下午，华侨银行与通商中国签署了合作备忘录，再次承诺将大力支持通商中国进一步推动两地之间的互联、互通、互动。
15. 今年是通商中国成立的十周年，十年间通商中国已成为连接新加坡和中国之间商业，社会和文化联系的重要平台。借此机会，我向通商中国的领导和团队表示热烈的祝贺。
16. 也祝大家有个愉快的晚上。