SINGAPORE, CHINA SIGN DEFENCE PACT

Singapore and China have signed a bilateral defence agreement on 7 Jan.

The Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation is the first defence pact to be signed between Singapore and China.

This agreement formalises existing activities - such as visits, courses, seminars and port calls - between Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

New areas of cooperation, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, will also be included.

The signing of this agreement marks a significant milestone in Singapore's defence relationship with China. It also reflects the growing defence ties between the two countries.

Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Defence Chiang Chie Foo and the PLA's Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General (LG) Ma Xiaotian signed the agreement at the end of the inaugural China-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD).

Mr Chiang, who is in China from 6 to 8 Jan, co-chaired the DPD with LG Ma. During the dialogue, both men exchanged views on regional security and discussed defence exchanges and security cooperation between Singapore and China.

While in China, Mr Chiang also called on the Chinese Defence Minister General (GEN) Cao Gangchuan and visited the PLA Academy of Military Science.