Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived in Singapore Sunday for a five-day official goodwill visit as guest of the Singaporean government.
The leader of China's top advisory body was greeted at the airport by John Chen, minister of state for National Development & Communications and Information Technology.
In a written speech upon arrival, Li said that during the visit, "I will have in-depth exchanges of views with the leaders of Singapore on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest."
He hoped this visit would increase mutual understanding and cooperation between the two sides and promote the all-round development of the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Singapore in the new century.
China and Singapore are friendly neighbors, he said, adding there exists profound traditional friendship between the two peoples.
Over the past 11 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, he said, the two countries have developed extensive friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.
He noted it has not only brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, but also contributed to stability and development in the region.
Li's entourage includes Zheng Wantong, secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, Chen Bangzhu, chairman of the Subcommittee of Human Resources and Environment of the CPPCC
National Committee, Zhang Wenbin, chairman of the CPPCC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Lin Yinghai, chairman of the CPPCC Henan Provincial Committee, Zhang Yueqi, chairman of the CPPCC Jilin Provincial Committee, Zhang Jiuheng, Chinese ambassador to Singapore, and Yuan Xingpei, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League.
Singapore is the last leg of Li's three-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which also included Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG). He will end the visit on November 23.
Li flied here from Port Moresby following a five-day official goodwill visit to PNG.
( November 18, 2001)
