Guests take photos in front of the backdrop of 60th National Day of Singapore in Guangzhou on August 11, 2025. (South Photo)
A reception was held on August 11 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Day of the Republic of Singapore, hosted by the Consulate General of Singapore in Guangzhou.
Zhang Shaokang, vice-governor of Guangdong province, extended warm festive greetings and best wishes to Singapore's Ambassador to China, Peter Tan, Consul General of Singapore in Guangzhou, Cindy Wee, and all Singaporean friends working, studying, and living in Guangdong.
He noted that 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. The two nations have consistently upheld mutual understanding and respect, laying a solid foundation for the steady and sound development of bilateral ties.
Guangdong and Singapore enjoy geographical proximity, strong people-to-people connections, business ties, and cultural convergence. Zhang highlighted that the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, which was once a rural landscape, has flourished into an international eco-city of high-end industries, top-tier talent, and innovative resources. The project is supported by the central governments and the joint efforts of Guangdong and Singapore.
Finally, Zhang expressed that Guangdong stands ready to work with Singapore to further deepen practical cooperation in scientific innovation, the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, smart city initiatives, and people-to-people exchanges.
The backdrop of 60th National Day of Singapore in Guangzhou on August 11, 2025. (South Photo)
Peter Tan delivered a speech at the event. He noted that the bilateral relationship between Singapore and China has not only withstood global challenges but has also seized major opportunities in each other's development journeys.
"This has allowed Singapore and China to move forward together in a rapidly changing world and to build an all-round, high-quality, future-oriented partnership," he said.
As Singapore's largest provincial trading partner in southern China, Tan emphasized that Guangdong's strong economic growth, vibrant business landscape, and talent pool present vast opportunities for deeper cooperation.
In particular, Tan performed the song titled "Friend" by Cantonese singer Alan Tam to salute the friendship between the two countries, which energized the ceremony.
Peter Tan and Cindy Wee along with students in Guangzhou perform a song on August 11, 2025. (South Photo)
In her remarks, Cindy Wee shared her experiences since assuming her role as Consul General of Singapore in Guangzhou in January 2025.
A video clip produced by the Consulate showcased official calls, academic and business engagements, collaborations with the ASEAN family in Guangzhou, visits from Singaporean delegations, and cultural exchanges.
Wee highlighted the role of the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) in promoting close collaboration between the two sides. She noted that the mechanism has adapted in tandem with global trends and national priorities.
"The 14th SGCC in 2024 has endorsed sustainability and the green economy, as well as healthcare and biomedical fields, as emerging priority areas with potential for win-win collaboration and high-quality investments," she added.
Notably, she detailed two bilateral projects: the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and the Singapore-Shenzhen Smart City Initiative (SCI).
A model of Merlion, the official mascot of Singapore in Guangzhou on August 11, 2025. (South Photo)
Given its 15th anniversary this year, the Guangzhou Knowledge City has developed a conducive environment to support collaboration in areas such as technology innovation, intellectual property rights, urban planning, and talent development.
The focus of SCI is to develop smart cities and advanced technology. From 2019 to 2024, according to Wee, over 40 projects have been initiated across the three pillars of collaboration: innovation and entrepreneurship, talent exchange and development, and digital connectivity.
Reporter: Zhang Ruijun,
Photo: Zhang Ruijun, Wang Yating (intern)
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
