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Singapore and China hold inaugural defence dialogue, to expand military exchanges

Singapore and China have signed several agreements to deepen military exchanges between both countries.
China's Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe and Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen shake hands in Singapore on 9 June 2022. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE — Singapore and China have signed several agreements to deepen military exchanges between both countries, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Thursday (9 June).

The agreements will boost cooperation in military education and academic exchanges among military academies and think-tanks, as agreed under the enhanced 2019 Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation (ADESC) signed between Singapore and China.

Among them is a renewed agreement to facilitate courses attended by the Singapore Armed Forces and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers, which was last signed in 2017.

The signing of the agreements was witnessed by China's Minister of National Defence General (Gen) Wei Fenghe, who is on an official visit to Singapore, and Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

Dr Ng and Gen Wei, who are also attending the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), held the inaugural Singapore-China Defence Ministers’ Dialogue on Thursday. During the dialogue, both ministers discussed defence cooperation through bilateral exercises, Asean-China defence ties, and global security issues.

“Gen Wei’s visit underscores the long-standing, warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and China that has deepened and grown over the years,” Mindef said.

Gen Wei, who is also Chinese State Councilor, will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean during his visit. He will also speak at a plenary session titled “China’s Vision for Regional Order” this Sunday during the SLD.

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