On February 16, at the invitation of Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of National University of Singapore, Ambassador Wei Wei attended the 'China Ambassador Event' organized by NUS.

In his speech as Guest of Honor, Ambassador Wei Wei introduced China's economic and social development and spoke highly of the development of China-Singapore ties. He said NUS plays a positive and important role in education exchange between the two sides.

The speech of Ambassador Wei is as follows:

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS,

Distinguished guests,

Faculty members and students,

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure for me to attend the China Ambassador Event organized by NUS and to share with you my views on the outlook of Chinese development and relationship between China and Singapore.

It's clear that 2011 was a year of turbulence for the world economy. The developed economies performed poorly and their growth and recovery were weak amid the debt crisis. While the emerging economies have remained on a fast track in 2011, China has launched and began to implement the Twelfth Five-Year Plan and has strengthened and improved our macro-economic regulation. Therefore we have properly handled the relations between growth, restructuring and inflation prevention, which subsequently maintained solid growth, stable price, efficient economic performance and improved livelihood for people. 2011 witnessed a 9.2 percent economic growth in China and the inflation declined as expected to 4 percent at the end of the year. This is an excellent result under the hard situation at home and abroad.

At present, the prospect of global economic and financial situation is not optimistic. China's economic reform has entered into a crucial stage. China will continue to improve macroeconomic management, economic structural and people's living standards. I think China's economic slowdown right now is temporary. The potential of China's growth in the future is enormous. There is no significant risk or even no possibility of so-called 'hard landing' at this moment.

In the age of economic globalization, no single region or country can seek prosperity alone. We must strengthen cooperation and take responsibility together. As a key player in the world, China is committed to promoting regional and world development and prosperity. We will adhere to the principle of being a good neighbor and a good partner of neighboring countries, increase political mutual trust, expand common interest, strengthen exchanges and cooperation and handle differences and problems properly with Asian countries and work with them to forge a regional environment with peace and stability, equality and mutual trust and win-win cooperation. At present, Vice President Xi Jinping is paying an official visit to the United States. Vice President Xi Jinping's visit will enhance the strategic mutual trust and push forward the cooperative partnership under the new situation between the two sides. The friendly and stable Sino-U.S. bilateral ties will bring more peace, prosperity and development to the world.

China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and share traditional friendship among the two peoples. Since China and Singapore established diplomatic relations 22 years ago, the two sides had frequent high-level contact and cooperation in various fields was fruitful. The Suzhou Industrial Park in Jiangsu Province has become a success story and China-Singapore Eco City program in Tianjin went on well. Besides those economic and trade cooperation, exchanges and cooperation in culture, science and technology produced positive outcomes, especially in education. The two sides have signed four education exchange and cooperation documents. China took part actively in the establishment of Singapore's fourth public-funded university. In April, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education, will visit Beijing, during which the two sides would like to start a Join Working Group between the two Ministries to work on areas of mutual interest. NUS, as a world-renowned university, plays an important role in education exchange between the two sides. NUS established two Overseas Colleges in China, and singed a collaboration agreement with the Suzhou to set up a research institute within the Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District. NUS also participates actively in Chinese officials training.

Reviewing the past and looking ahead, we have every confidence in the future of China-Singapore relations. The Chinese side will continue, and I myself will do my effort to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Singapore and strengthen our traditional friendship. I believe our cooperation will have an even brighter future.

As Chinese Ambassador, I am looking forward to a continued strong performance of China's economy and also fruitful cooperation between China and Singapore in the year of dragon.

Thank you!