Vice-premier Zhang Gaoli expressed his condolences following the death of Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in a telegram to Singaporean Vice Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on March 23.

Zhang said Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of constructive cooperation between China and Singapore, and an old friend of the Chinese people, had made great contributions to the China-Singapore relationship.

China is willing and ready to work with Singapore to further honor the tradition of partnership that was ushered in and carefully nurtured by generations of leaders from both countries, to further develop the China-Singapore cooperative relationship, the Vice-premier said in the telegram.