新加坡和中國牢固的夥伴關系可追溯到四十年前。當年，新加坡參與並支持了中國的改革開放工作。明天，我和中國國務院副總理韓正將共同主持第17屆新中雙邊合作聯合委員會（Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation，簡稱 JCBC）會議。這是兩國最高級別的雙邊合作平台。JCBC首次于2004年召開會議，這些年來雙方得以通過此平台全面探討兩國廣泛的合作關系和確認新的合作領域，以加強兩國源遠流長的雙邊關系。
這幾十年來，新中兩國開展了三個政府間合作項目–分別爲1994年開發的蘇州工業園區、2008年開始建設的天津生態城，以及2015年正式啓動的中新（重慶）戰略性互聯互通示範項目。中新廣州知識城則在2018年升級爲國家級雙邊合作項目。這些項目是在新中兩國各自發展道路上不同階段時期推出的，而雙邊合作性質的不斷演變也彰顯了兩國關系的前瞻性。爲了應對2019冠狀病毒疾病，新中兩國去年把公共衛生列爲新的合作領域。冠病疫情也加速了現有結構性變化。因此，在明天舉行的JCBC會議中，雙方也將會適時地討論兩國如何能越戰越勇，並在後疫情時期建構更具韌性的經濟和社會，爲全球複蘇作出貢獻。
蓬勃的經濟
隨著中國步入新發展格局，包括落實其“雙循環”戰略，新加坡可進一步爲中國的經濟增長做出貢獻。配合全球貿易流動和供應鏈的重組，新加坡可以加強中國與本區域經濟體的聯系。連接中國西部和東南亞的中新(重慶)互聯互通項目旗下的國際陸海貿易新通道就是一個很好的例子。在這條貿易通道上，我們著重通過數碼化，從而促進數據的無縫流通和電子文檔的使用,讓貨物流動更加通暢。這不僅能優化供應鏈的運作，也有可能加快貨物通關、貿易融資、保險和其他相關活動的速度。這方面的前景是樂觀的。即便是在冠病疫情的籠罩下，貿易通道在2021年上半年的貨運量比2020年同期增長了百分之35。
除了貿易合作，本區域在加強數碼連接方面也存有巨大潛力。冠病疫情期間，許多商業和民間活動從線下轉到線上，而這樣的趨勢將會持續。中國作爲數碼引領者，其數碼經濟占國內生産總值的三分之一。東南亞也是數碼經濟發展最快的地區之一，此地區的網絡經濟規模預計到了2025年將超過3000億美元。
新中兩國的數碼合作將讓我們的企業受益，並推動亞細安向數碼經濟一體化邁進。深圳智慧城市等雙邊合作項目皆可成爲采用新科技和政策創新的先鋒，爲企業和消費者建立可信賴的數碼環境。例如，采用區塊鏈解決方案的數碼貿易計劃將使跨境交易更快速更安全，並降低在兩國都有業務的企業的成本，以及在數碼經濟領域創造新的服務。新加坡也歡迎中國和其他志同道合的夥伴加入數碼經濟夥伴關系協定，將雙邊合作擴展到諸邊合作的平台。
互聯的社會
新加坡和中國都同樣有著提升民生生活質量的目標。盡管新中兩國土地面積懸殊，社會經濟情況也存在差異，兩國社會卻面對許多共同的挑戰，因此雙方可以借鑒彼此的經驗，互相學習。比如兩國都面臨人口老化的問題。我們可以在這個議題上擴大合作範圍，共同探討如何更好地照顧我們的年長者，讓他們保持活躍、健康。我們也可以加強社會政策和良政方面的交流，探討如何更欣然接受多元化社會、對世界保持開放，以及維持社會流動性等議題。
兩國人民之間的流動是推進兩國在各層面互動的關鍵。這不僅限于兩國官員之間的交流，也包括兩國的商人、科研人員、學生和社會各階層人士的往來。冠病疫情迫使各國加強邊境管制，以遏制病毒的傳播。但是，新加坡正從疫苗接種者旅遊通道著手，探討加快恢複國際客運的航班。即使我們正在對抗奧密克戎毒株，我們仍會繼續以安全的方式與主要航空夥伴恢複航空連通性。我們希望能在這方面和中國合作，包括承認雙方的數碼冠病健康證書。
當我們最終恢複跨境旅遊時，新中兩國的年輕一代應當是我們優先考慮的一群，以讓他們認識新中兩國和本區域豐富多元的曆史與文化背景，讓他們具備更廣闊的國際視野。新中兩國恢複民間往來，也能加強和全球各國的互聯互通。
可持續發展的世界
冠病疫情也提醒各國，我們必須致力于應對氣候變化等全球挑戰。可持續發展是新加坡和中國，乃至世界各國的當前急務。今年初，新加坡制定了《2030年綠色發展藍圖》，中國也宣布了“1+N”的政策體系以實現2060年的碳中和目標。新中兩國能在共同領域上展開合作，例如發展循環經濟模式和推動綠色能源的貿易與投資。
另一方面，我們也通過中新天津生態城項目，打造具有能源效率以及氣候韌性的城市。我們也正加強合作，共同探討如何進一步把大自然融入建成環境，並加強對生物多樣性的保護。通過在天津生態城試點新方案，並複制推廣到其他城市，我們希望從而支持中國實現“雙碳”目標。
此外，綠色金融也是新加坡與重慶、廣東、上海及蘇州等城市合作發展的重點領域之一，新加坡也可以更好地支援中國企業對綠色和轉型金融的融資需求。新中兩國還能在更多方面展開合作，也能聯手和區域夥伴合作，推動可持續發展。例如，我們可以探索綠色金融科技如何能減低環境所遭受的破壞，並鼓勵投資者在可持續的資産上注入更大的投資。
總結
新中兩國在今年JCBC會議的議程是積極並具前瞻性的。在即將舉行的JCBC會議上，我和韓副總理也會聯合主持首只在新加坡誕生的大熊貓寶寶名字的揭幕儀式。這只大熊貓寶寶于2021年8月14日出世。它的父母凱凱和嘉嘉，是新加坡與中國在租借協議下于2012年抵新的兩只大熊貓。大熊貓寶寶的誕生是件喜事，也象征了新中兩國友誼長青。
展望未來，新中兩國在建設一個蓬勃、互聯和可持續的未來上有著共同利益。我有信心，兩國將通過緊密的夥伴關系，繼續與時並進，並且保持雙方在多方面合作的強勁勢頭，爲兩國乃至本區域的人民帶來更美好的未來。
作者是新加坡副總理兼經濟政策統籌部長王瑞傑
Forging Ahead Through COVID-19 and Beyond: Towards a Vibrant, Connected and Sustainable Future
The strong partnership between Singapore
and China goes back four decades, beginning with our participation in and support of China’s reform and opening-up. Tomorrow, PRC Vice Premier Han Zheng and I will co-chair the 17th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which is the apex bilateral cooperation platform between our two countries. First held in 2004, the JCBC allows both sides to take stock of our wide-ranging cooperation, and identify new areas of collaboration to strengthen our longstanding relations.
Over the decades, Singapore and China embarked on three Government-to-Government projects – Suzhou Industrial Park in 1994, Tianjin Eco-City in2008 and Chongqing Connectivity Initiative in 2015. We also elevated the Guangzhou Knowledge City to a state-level bilateral cooperation project in 2018. These projects were launched at different phases of our respective developmental journeys, and the evolving nature of collaboration exemplify the forward-looking nature of our relationship. In response to COVID-19, Singapore and China added public health as a new area of cooperation last year. The pandemic has also accelerated existing structural shifts. At tomorrow’s JCBC, it is timely to also discuss how our two countries can emerge stronger as economies, societies and as part of the global community.
Vibrant Economies
As China embarks on a new development paradigm, including the dual circulation strategy, Singapore can further contribute to China’s economic growth. With the reconfiguration of global trade flows and supply chains, Singapore can strengthen China’s linkages with economies in the region. A good example is the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative – New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which links Western China and Southeast Asia. Our partnership on the trade corridor focuses on how the physical movement of goods can be complemented by digitalisation to promote seamless data flows and paperless documentation. This not only optimises supply chain operations, but can potentially speed up customs clearance, trade financing, insurance, and other related activities. The prospects have been positive, with a reported 35% increase in cargo flows along the corridor in the first half of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 despite the ongoing pandemic.
Apart from trade, there is also tremendous potential to strengthen digital connectivity in our region. During the pandemic, businesses and people have shifted their activities online, and this trend is here to stay. China is a global digital leader, with a digital economy that makes up one third of its GDP. In Southeast Asia, we have one of the fastest-growing digital economies, which is projected to grow to more than US$300 billion by 2025.
The digital collaborations between Singapore and China will benefit our companies, and galvanise efforts to integrate ASEAN’s digital economy. Bilateral projects such as the Shenzhen Smart City Initiative can serve as pathfinders for new technological and policy innovations to promote trusted digital environments for businesses and consumers. For example, digital trade initiatives with blockchain solutions, will facilitate faster and more secure cross-border transactions, reduce costs for businesses operating in both jurisdictions, and create new services for the digital economy. Singapore also welcomes interest from China and other like-minded partners in joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, which will extend our cooperation to a plurilateral platform.
Connected Societies
Singapore and China share the same goal to uplift the lives of our peoples. Despite differences in size and socio-economic circumstances, our two societies face many common challenges. We can learn from one another. One such challenge is our ageing population. We can broaden our collaboration to include how we can better care for and enable our seniors to stay active and healthy. We can also revitalise exchanges on social policies and governance, including how we can better embrace diversity, remain open to the world, and keep social mobility alive.
The key to such exchanges – not just between officials, but also between business leaders, scientists, students, and people from different parts of society – is the movement of people. The pandemic has necessitated tight border controls to contain the spread of the virus. But Singapore is exploring greater resumption of air connectivity, starting with Vaccinated Travel Lanes. Even as we tackle the Omicron variant, we will continue to restore air connectivity with key aviation partners in a safe manner. We hope to work with China in this area, including the mutual recognition of digital COVID-19 health certificates.
When cross-border travel eventually resumes, one priority area is the youths in our two countries. We must continue to expose them to the rich historical and cultural contexts of our two countries and the region, and develop in them a more global outlook. By resuming the exchange of people, Singapore and China can work together towards a more connected world.
Sustainable World
COVID-19 is also a reminder that all countries must act on global challenges such as climate change. Sustainable development is a critical priority not just for Singapore and China, but for every nation. Singapore launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 earlier this year, while China has released a “1+N” policy framework to meet its 2060 carbon neutrality targets. We can work together on common areas – such as developing the circular economy, and promoting green energy trade and investments.
Through the Tianjin Eco-City project, we have been building a city that is resource-efficient and resilient to climate change. We are also strengthening cooperation to further integrate nature with the built environment and deepen biodiversity conservation. By piloting new solutions in Tianjin Eco-City in a way that is scalable to other cities, we can contribute to China’s double carbon goals.
Green finance is one of our priorities in our partnerships with Chongqing, Guangdong, Shanghai, and Suzhou. Singapore can better support the green and transition financing needs of Chinese corporates. There are other areas that both countries can work together, and with partners in the region, to catalyse sustainable development. For example, we can explore how green fintech can help reduce environmental impact and channel investments towards more sustainable assets.
Conclusion
Singapore and China have a progressive and forward-looking agenda for this year’s JCBC. At the upcoming JCBC, Vice Premier Han and I will also jointly unveil the name of the first Giant Panda cub born in Singapore. The cub was born on 14 August 2021 to Kai Kai and Jia Jia – our resident Giant Pandas which arrived in Singapore in 2012 under a loan agreement with China. The birth of the cub is a joyous occasion and a symbol of our friendship.
Looking to the future, Singapore and China have common interests in building a future that is vibrant, connected and sustainable. I am confident that through our close partnership, Singapore and China will be able to keep up with the times and maintain our strong momentum of multi-faceted cooperation, so that peoples in our two countries and the region can have a better future.
This is an op-ed by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat on 28 December 2021, ahead of the 17th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
照片來源：新加坡副總理王瑞傑面簿帖文