SINGAPORE — Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on June 10 met with visiting State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe.

Wei, who arrived here on June 8, is on an official visit to Singapore, where he will attend the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue held here from June 10 to 12, after a two-year suspension of the security meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During their meeting, Lee noted that the uniquely-defined Singapore-China all-round cooperative partnership progressing with the times highlights the distinctiveness and high level of the relations between the two countries.

He urged joint efforts to continue strengthening bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, economy and trade, and to maintain the sound momentum of the constant development of bilateral ties.

New changes are taking place in the world and the Asia-Pacific, Lee said, expressing hope that regional countries will strengthen communication and increase mutual trust to jointly add positive factors to regional peace and stability.

Wei said that China-Singapore relations have developed continuously under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which have played a leading and exemplary role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Faced with changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century, he said, China and Singapore should continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, expand the convergence of interests, and support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concern, so as to inject positive energy into safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Wei said that the two militaries have enjoyed a stable development of relations over recent years, and they should continue to enhance high-level exchanges and practical cooperation, so as to constantly push forward the ties between the two militaries.

On June 9, Wei held talks with Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, during which they exchanged views on the international and regional situation, the South China Sea, and the Ukraine crisis, among other issues.