BEIJING — Defense Minister Chang Wanquan and Minister of National Defence of Singapore Ng Eng Hen on Nov 14 held talks and reached a four-point consensus.

Chang, also State Councilor, and Ng reaffirmed the two sides’ commitment to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation through the four-point consensus.

First, both sides will strengthen the healthy and steady development of their defense relationship based on mutual respect and accommodating each other’s security concerns for mutual trust, according to the news release.

Second, both sides will enhance dialogue and mutual understanding through the conduct of regular high-level meetings and strategic consultation, the release said.

Third, both sides will promote confidence building and mutual trust by strengthening practical cooperation, such as joint training exercises.

Fourth, both sides will deepen people-to-people ties and friendship by increasing working-level exchanges and dialogues between both militaries, the release said.

To enhance military-to-military exchanges, the conduct of joint training exercises code-named “Exercise Cooperation” between the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Republic of Singapore Army, will be expanded in subject, scope and frequency gradually, the release said.

Further, cooperation between the two navies will be expanded to involve exchanges in specialized fields and joint training. Both sides will engage at the working level in communication and consultation on counterterrorism cooperation, as well as establishing new touch points, such as information sharing in areas of mutual interest, the release said.

Both sides agreed to enhance communication and coordination, extend mutual support in regional security affairs, and play a positive role in fostering dialogue and practical cooperation among regional countries, the release said.

Both sides expressed confidence that bilateral defense relationship between China and Singapore would continue to grow, underpinned by mutual benefit and win-win result, with an aim of promoting regional peace and stability, the release said.

During his visit to China, Ng witnessed the conduct of the third joint training exercise between the PLA and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), code-named “Exercise Cooperation 2014”, visited the PLA Navy’s North Sea Fleet and delivered a speech at the PLA National Defence University.