BANGKOK — China and Singapore pledged to boost bilateral cooperation in Bangkok on July 31.

While meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) foreign ministers' meeting and other related meetings, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the two countries have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides since the beginning of this year which has injected new impetus to the bilateral relations.

As the year 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China is ready to work with Singapore to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road and forging the New International Land-Sea trade Corridor, among others, Wang said.

China is ready to join hands with Singapore to continue to firmly support free trade and build an open world economy, Wang said.

The top Chinese diplomat said China was the first country to establish a strategic partnership with ASEAN and has played a leading and exemplary role for ASEAN's other dialogue partners.

China and ASEAN are strategic partners and a community with shared future, Wang said, adding that China will work with Singapore for the successful holding of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting and other related meetings and focus on cooperation and development so as to jointly promote common prosperity in the region.

For his part, Balakrishnan spoke highly of the development of China-Singapore relations, saying that the two sides have witnessed close high-level contacts and deep connection of development strategies of the two countries.

The Singaporean foreign minister said his country will uphold the one-China policy and continue to play a constructive role in promoting the relations between ASEAN and China.