Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew,
CEO of International Enterprise Singapore, Mr Teo Eng Cheong
Chairman of Business China, Mr Chua Thian Poh
Board Directors of Business China,
Distinguished speakers and guests
A very good evening!
A warm welcome to the welcome dinner of FutureChina Global Forum 2013, hosted by IE Singapore.
Business China, the organizer for this forum, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers, especially those who have travelled a long distance to be here, we thank you for your support.
The FutureChina Global Forum is into its fourth year. Since 2010, it has built a reputation for its incisive and insightful perspectives of China. Each year, the forum attracts thought leaders, captains of industry and top executives from China and the region with its salient discussions on the latest issues, trends and observations concerning China and its impact on the world.
This year, we will delve into how China’s new leadership will meet the challenges of guiding the this rising economic and geo-political superpower into an era of global preeminence. We will also explore the implications of policy changes and new directions set by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. As China’s economy grows at a slower pace, it is also meeting increasing resistance in aspect of governance and on the social front[1]. In a recent report, the IMF suggested that China needs faster, broader and deeper financial reforms “to sustain strong economic growth, support rising domestic demand, and keep risks at bay”[2].
The future of China is closely watched. Its recent move to rein in local government debt has ripple effects on financial exchanges across the world. As the world’s second largest economy, China’s leadership and its policies are making its waves felt and we hope this forum will reveal new insights to China’s next decade.
China’s transformation, the development of its services sector and the internationalization of Chinese companies, offer opportunities for both Chinese and Singapore companies. A recent IE Singapore survey showed that in 2012, Singapore companies invested a total of S$7.91billion (US$6.33billion) in China, making it China’s third largest investor.[3]
Our strong economic relations enjoy lively social and cultural ties on both sides. The establishment of Business China in 2007 by Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attests to our countries’ vibrant relationship. One of the key aims of Business China is to build closer bilateral ties by nurturing waves of China-savvy and China-ready bicultural individuals. We foster their “China quotient”, helping them enhance their ability to navigate between the East and West, transcend cultural barriers and keep pace with modern China which is also a key objective of the FutureChina Global Forum.
On this note, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin.
各位贵宾，大家晚上好！
通商中国于大约6年前由新加坡建国总理李光耀先生以及当时的中国温家宝总理共同启动。2010年，为欢庆新中建交20周年，通商中国创办了慧眼中国环球论坛，旨在提供一个独立的双语交流平台，让世界各地关心中国未来发展的政界、商界、和社会以及学术界领袖，有机会就中国瞬息万变的局势，发表各自的看法并交换意见，通过近距离的交流，加强对中国各方面的了解，以更好的掌握当下中国社会的脉动。
在此，我谨代表主办单位再次欢迎各位远道而来的嘉宾，感谢各位在百忙之中特地拨冗出席慧眼中国环球论坛，分享宝贵的真知灼（zhuo2)见。祝愿各位在接下来的两天里，能集思广益，结交志同道合的良师益友，扩展人脉网络，开拓更多合作与共赢的契机。
Once again, thank you for your strong support for the Forum. I wish all of you a fruitful harvest of fresh perspectives and connections that will deepen your understanding of China for a prosperous future.
Last but not least, I would like to once again,thank IE Singapore for their strong support to the FutureChina Global Forum. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate IE Singapore for 30 successful years of growing Singapore’s economic future through globalisation. On this note, it gives me great pleasure to invite the host of our dinner tonight, Mr Teo Eng Cheong, CEO of IE Singapore to deliver the welcome address. Mr Teo, please.
[1] The 2011 CSC Symposium featuring Dr Huang Jing, Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Dr Xia Yeliang, Professor of Economics, Peking University and Dr Li Bingqin, Lecturer, London School of Economics.
[2] International Monetary Fund, “Financial Sector Reform Vital to Rebalance, Sustain China’s Growth,” IMF Survey Magazine. Countries and Region: China’s Financial Sector. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/car111411a.htm, accessed July 6, 2013.
[3]IE Insights Forging Ahead in China: A Survey of Singapore companies -http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/wcm/connect/a8e3ff004f0cc448b04bb41125e4d0d1/IE_Insight_China24032013.pdf?MOD=AJPERES