2017年CRI China, Singapore to jointly promote Belt & Road

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and his Singaporen counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan shake hands with each other during a meeting in Beijing on Monday, June 12, 2017. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Foreign ministers of China and Singapore have met in Beijing and reached agreements to strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

During their talks, Wang Yi and Vivian Balakrishnan also discussed ways to deal with the South China Sea issue without outside involvement.

This is the fourth meeting between Chinese and Singaporean foreign ministers this year.

Speaking to the media after the talks, Wang Yi said cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative will be the biggest highlight of their bilateral¹ relations.

During Monday's meeting, the two sides agreed to build three platforms as part of the cooperation regarding the Belt and Road Initiative.

The programs aim to boost connectivity projects in Chongqing, help with the financing of the initiative, and pool both country's strengths to open up third-party markets.

Vivian Balakrishnan described Singapore as a strong believer and supporter of the Belt and Road Initiative, hoping that countries along the route will be able to integrate their economies and expand opportunities for exchanges all all levels.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership² between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Balakrishnan also said Singapore is willing to take on the opportunity to be a coordinator³ between the ASEAN and China and push forward ASEAN-China relations in all regards when it becomes the bloc's rotating president next year.

As part of the meeting, the two sides mentioned the negotiations⁴ on the contents of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

Wang Yi said China and ASEAN have the ability to draw up regional rules to safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea on their own.

"China and the ASEAN countries are fully⁵ capable, through our joint⁶ efforts, to work out, in an independent way, regional rules for the peace and stability of the South China Sea. I think as long as we continue to enhance mutual⁷ trust, deepen cooperation and get rid of interference from inside and outside the region, maybe more of interference from the outside, and after necessary preparatory work by all parties, we will be able to hold substantive⁸ consultations⁹ on the COC texts at a proper time until we reach important regional rules. We have confidence in it."

Senior officials from China and ASEAN agreed on the framework for the CoC in the South China Sea on May 18.

Wang Yi suggested an important experience gained from the framework talks was creating a sound environment and clearing away outside distractions¹⁰.

Topics of their discussion also included the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership talks and the establishment of the East Asian Economic Community.

The meeting was part of Balakrishnan's two-day trip to China.

He also met with Chinese Vice¹¹ President Li Yuanchao and State Councilor Yang Jiechi during his official visit.

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

8 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

9 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。