{"id":12288,"date":"2025-11-17T17:26:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T09:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=12288"},"modified":"2025-11-17T17:26:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T09:26:35","slug":"singapores-relevance-to-china-hinges-on-understanding-of-its-evolving-priorities-chan-chun-sing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=12288","title":{"rendered":"Singapore\u2019s relevance to China hinges on understanding of its evolving priorities: Chan Chun Sing"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE – Interactions via a \u201cspecial channel\u201d between Singapore\u2019s public servants and officials from the Communist Party of China (CPC) offer the Republic a rare window into Beijing\u2019s thinking, and allows it to be more relevant in sharing insights about common policy challenges.<\/p>\n

These range from geopolitical shifts to pivoting to high-quality growth economically to social issues such as an ageing population and young people with increasingly diverse aspirations, said Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.<\/p>\n

He was speaking with local media at an interview on Nov 13 ahead of the upcoming Singapore-China Forum on Leadership, a biennial forum that brings together senior members of Singapore\u2019s public service and the CPC\u2019s Central Organisation Department.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the (CPC) has many such interactions with many other countries. We are a very unique partner,\u201d said Mr Chan, who is also Singapore\u2019s Defence Minister.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows us to delve into topics of leadership development at a much deeper level and this allows us, and helps us, to understand China better. Not just what they do and how they do, but why they do what they do,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Such understanding would allow Singapore to cooperate better with China and find new opportunities for collaboration, he said.<\/p>\n

Dubbed \u201cthe largest human resources department in the world\u201d, the CPC\u2019s Central Organisation Department oversees the deployment of thousands of party cadres throughout China\u2019s political system, and has a hand in grooming and promoting future party leaders. <\/p>\n

Its head, Mr Shi Taifeng, who is a member of the CPC\u2019s Political Bureau, will be co-chairing the leadership forum with Mr Chan, who has co-chaired the previous two editions, one of <\/p>\n

which was held in Beijing in 2023<\/p>\n

<\/a> and the other held virtually in 2021 because of Covid-19 restrictions at the time.<\/p>\n

The 10th edition of the forum, which takes place on Nov 18, is themed \u201cTransformative Leadership in Times of Great Change\u201d and coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and China.<\/p>\n

Mr Chan noted at the interview at the Treasury building that China has to navigate a very changed world today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trade relationships are now different. The geopolitical relationships are different. And I will say that even the military relationships are constantly evolving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Speaking with senior Chinese leaders that Singapore would otherwise not have access to via its other exchanges \u2013 whether between ministries or through provincial business councils and government-to-government projects \u2013 presents an opportunity to understand how the Chinese see the world and how they intend to conduct their business with other countries. <\/p>\n

Mr Chan said discussions will focus on three sub-topics: geopolitical shifts, China\u2019s pursuit of high-quality economic growth in an era of rapid and disruptive technological changes, and domestic societal challenges.<\/p>\n

He noted that the topics slated for discussion were areas of concern for the Chinese, as shown in <\/p>\n

their 15th Five-Year Plan<\/p>\n

<\/a> that charts the country\u2019s economic and social development strategy from 2026 to 2030, the proposals of which were released in October.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the three topics, I think there are obviously areas that we can work on \u2013 for example, on the geopolitical front, where both of us can work together to contribute to the regional peace, upholding the global order, and also maybe come up with new ideas on how the global rules can be developed for the benefit of all,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n

On the economic front, Mr Chan said China in the past may have been more concerned with quantity, scale and size, but it has increasingly pivoted towards innovation and the quality of growth.<\/p>\n

Noting that Singapore has never been able to talk about size and scale but always talks about speed, innovation, relevance and quality, he said China\u2019s new focus presents \u201copportunities for us to work together to mutually share our perspective of the world and how we can take… our different economic models forward\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added that there was potential for more joint projects between the two countries.<\/p>\n

As China\u2019s development continues to advance, it is also now facing domestic social challenges similar to those of other countries, including Singapore.<\/p>\n

Mr Chan pointed to two of these challenges \u2013 an ageing population and an increasingly affluent younger generation with more diverse aspirations.<\/p>\n

On these issues, the minister said there is room for both countries to exchange ideas: for the aged, on how to better manage housing and retirement adequacy.<\/p>\n

For the younger generation, it would be on how to harness their energy in a positive way that promotes growth and development for their country.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThis is how I think, for a small country like Singapore, we can be relevant to other bigger countries, other partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we spend time and effort to deeply understand their needs, their concerns, their aspirations, so that we can find common ground to work together amidst all these changes.\u201d <\/p>\n

Another benefit of the upcoming leadership forum is that it provides a platform for Singapore\u2019s leaders to understand and build personal ties with a new generation of up-and-coming Chinese leaders, added Mr Chan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past nine editions of this forum, we have made many good and old friends. So we can better understand their thinking and mindset, and find new collaborative projects,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

He cited the example of Mr Zhao Leji, who was formerly head of the Central Organisation Department and is now the third-ranked official in the CPC\u2019s Politburo Standing Committee, China\u2019s top decision-making body.<\/p>\n

Mr Chan said hosting Mr Zhao in Singapore when they were both younger men allowed them to build a certain trust and openness.<\/p>\n

Similarly, he noted how his current counterpart, Mr Shi, had worked with Singaporean officials on the Suzhou Industrial Park and other projects in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn working with China, it is not just about working on the projects, per se, but it is also about working the relationship behind the projects,\u201d Mr Chan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe projects may change, but if the relationship is strong, that allows us to go into different projects and evolve the projects even as we move along,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n