By Liu Zhen
Copyright scmp
China will work with Singapore to maintain regional stability and maritime order, Beijing’s top-ranked military officer told Singapore’s defence minister on Wednesday.
General Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), offered the commitment during talks with Chan Chun Sing on the sidelines of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
“China is willing to work with Singapore to … strengthen regional security cooperation, support each other’s core interests, maintain maritime security order, defend international fairness and justice, promote the positive development of the relations between the two militaries, and inject more certainty and stability into regional security,” Zhang said.
According to the Chinese defence ministry, Chan praised the traditional ties and positive military relationship between the two countries, saying Singapore believed that a stable and continuously developing China was conducive to regional and global peace and development.
Chan also said Singapore adhered to the one-China policy, the ministry said.
Zhang is the highest-ranking professional military officer in China and deputy to CMC chairman Xi Jinping.
He also met Alvaro Lopez Miera, minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, promising to support Cuba on core interests, closely coordinate on international and regional affairs, and deepen relations between the two countries and their armed forces.
“We stand united in opposing hegemony and power politics, safeguarding the common interests of Cuba, China and the international community,” Lopez was quoted as saying.
The annual Beijing Xiangshan Forum is China’s top conference for international security and defence dialogue.
It brings together senior military and defence officials, researchers and experts to discuss security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
China also uses the event to promote its security vision, manage regional tensions and improve military diplomacy and trust with countries in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Welcoming his counterparts from Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Namibia and Rwanda, among others, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said the People’s Liberation Army was willing to continue its traditional friendship with all foreign militaries, improve strategic communication, pursue higher-level security cooperation and jointly address risks and challenges.
“Through extensive consultations and the building of consensus, we have pooled our strength to jointly safeguard the international order and promote peaceful development,” Dong said.
