Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji is a man of great confidence, yet, for all his stature, he is also admirably unassuming, frank and open-minded, characteristics he exuded during his three-day visit to Singapore.
Like other Chinese leaders, Mr Zhu expressed keen interest in Singapore's success story and high regard for its far-sighted leaders.
After Mr Zhu's appointment as China's premier, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew described him as a respectable person though not necessarily a person liked by all.
Likewise, Mr Zhu has a high regard for SM Lee. However, his comments have not been made public.
Ties between the two leaders are close. Not long ago, Mr Zhu hosted a banquet in honour of SM Lee in Beijing, where they had a meeting session. Recently, the old friends met again at the Mandarin Hotel in Singapore.
Mr Zhu reportedly told his Chinese working party after the meeting that SM Lee has many inspiring ideas. The veteran politician, who studied abroad in his young days, has a broad horizon. Hence he learned a lot from his conversations with the Senior Minister. Clearly, the Chinese Premier has great admiration for SM Lee.
Recently, Mr Zhu met Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Manila. A few days later, they met up in Singapore again in the Istana. It was a “very casual” talk, Mr Zhu told the Chinese officials later. Apparently it was a cosy meeting.
At the invitation of Mr Zhu, PM Goh will be making a visit to China next year. No doubt, these friendly visits will warm ties further.
After his first visit to Singapore in 1990 as the Mayor of Shanghai, Mr Zhu soon implemented a series of reforms based on Singapore's Central Provident Fund scheme and housing experience, which he modified to suit Shanghai's conditions, he told Singapore's media.
During his recent visit, Mr Zhu updated Singapore on the latest developments in China's reforms. His impressions of Singapore have deepened as well.
According to official sources, Mr Zhu told Chinese officials during an internal session that despite its smallness and lack of resources, Singapore has made great progress in just a few decades. It was really quite a feat. Such stellar achievements could not be possible without a good workforce.
So, similarly, China faces the same challenge to upgrade its own human resourse in this regard. It is important for China to cooperate with Singapore, the premier said.
When Mr Zhu visited Temasek Holdings, he was greatly impressed. The way the institution is managed and supervised is worth learning, he said.
However, he stressed that China's market economy is one with socialist characteristics. Therefore the country cannot practise privatisation in the way the Temasek Holdings can, although many sectors of its economy can be open up.
As time was short, Mr Zhu was not able to delve deeper into some of the issues. However, he hoped that both sides would continue in their exchanges and discussions.
Speaking at a lecture organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies later, Mr Zhu praised Singapore for its role as a bridge linking East and West and the creativity of its people. “Your country has impressed me greatly,” he told participants.
And Mr Zhu impressed Singaporeans enormously, too. His charisma and pragmatic ways enhance China's image and boost international confidence in China.
Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who chaired the meeting at ISEAS, made an insightful comment on China's leadership.
A major part of international confidence in China depended on investors' assessment of the leadership in charge, he said. “China depends on their pragmatism, competence and resolve to ascend greater heights in the new millennium,” he added.
In a nutshell, Mr Zhu's visit has not only brought about a deeper understanding between China and Singapore but also forged closer friendship and mutual trust between leaders on both sides. This is an important foundation for healthy bilateral relations.
朱（金容）基重視新加坡經(jīng)驗
朱（金容）基總理是一個非常自信的人,同時又謙遜坦誠,虛懷若谷。在新加坡為期三天的正式訪問中,這種令人欽佩的品德再次展露無遺。如同中國其他領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人一樣,他不僅對新加坡的一些成功經(jīng)驗表現(xiàn)出了濃厚的興趣,而且還對新加坡領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的遠(yuǎn)見卓識極為欣賞。
在朱（金容）基當(dāng)選中國總理之后,李光耀資政曾經(jīng)評論說,朱（金容）基也許不是所有人都喜歡的人,但卻是令人尊敬的人。不為外人所知的是,朱（金容）基也非常敬重和欣賞李資政,只可惜他的有關(guān)言論并未見諸報端。
朱總理和李資政之間的交往可以說相當(dāng)密切。不久前,當(dāng)李資政在北京訪問時,朱（金容）基就曾設(shè)宴熱情款待,兩人相談甚歡。這次在新加坡,朱（金容）基在他下榻的文華酒店恭候李資政,老友重逢,分外親切。據(jù)有關(guān)官員透露,在會晤結(jié)束之后,朱（金容）基對中方工作人員說,李資政的很多思想都很有啟發(fā)性,他年青時在國外受教育,見識廣,視野開闊,所以每次和他談話都能學(xué)到很多東西。
從這番講話中可以看出,朱（金容）基總理對李資政的欽佩之情油然而生。
在訪問新加坡之前,朱（金容）基曾與吳作棟總理在馬尼拉見過面。幾十個小時之后,兩人又在新加坡總統(tǒng)府舉行了會談。朱（金容）基后來對中方人員說,他和吳作棟總理不僅談得很好,而且“談得很隨便”?？梢韵胍?這是朋友間輕松與和諧的聚會。應(yīng)朱（金容）
基的邀請,吳作棟總理將在明年再次訪問中國。毫無疑問,通過這些頻繁的互訪和接觸,兩國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人之間的友誼將不斷加深,雙邊關(guān)系也會隨之更加密切。
在抵達(dá)新加坡當(dāng)天,朱（金容）基總理對新聞媒介說,1990年他以上海市市長身分首次來訪,把新加坡的公積金制度和住房建設(shè)經(jīng)驗帶了回去,并在加以修改之后予以推行。在這次訪問期間,他不僅把中國改革開放的嶄新形象帶到新加坡,同時也加深了對新加坡的良好印象。
據(jù)有關(guān)官員介紹,朱（金容）基在一個內(nèi)部場合語重心長地說,新加坡這么小,又缺乏資源,經(jīng)過短短幾十年的努力就已經(jīng)發(fā)展到今天這個地步,確實很不簡單。這些成就的取得,全靠人的素質(zhì)。我們中國現(xiàn)在面臨的問題就是人才的培養(yǎng)和訓(xùn)練,因此,在這方面與新加坡進(jìn)行合作是很重要的。
在訪問期間,朱（金容）基總理還興致勃勃地參觀了淡馬錫控股,印象極為深刻。他說,這種控股形式值得中國國有企業(yè)在改革中拿來參考,尤其是它的經(jīng)營監(jiān)管制度值得借鑒。中國的很多行業(yè)可以放開,但由于是社會主義市場經(jīng)濟,因此不能像淡馬錫控股那樣搞私有化。他還說,由于參觀的時間太短,一些問題還沒有談清楚,因此希望新中有關(guān)部門今后繼續(xù)進(jìn)行切磋和交流。
上星期二下午,朱（金容）基總理在東南亞研究所舉辦的演講會上說,新加坡是聯(lián)結(jié)東西方的橋梁,新加坡人民有很強的創(chuàng)造力,“貴國給我留下的印象是深刻的”。同樣,在這次短暫的訪問中,朱（金容）基也給新加坡留下了美好的回憶。他的求實作風(fēng)、實干精神和人格魅力,不僅為中國的國際形象添姿增彩,而且也增強了外部世界對中國的信心。
在朱（金容）基的演講會上,會議主席李顯龍副總理就中國的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層發(fā)表了一番頗有見地的評論。他說,在很大程度上,國際社會對中國的信心取決于外國投資者對中國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層的評價。中國若要在下個千年里攀登新的高峰,就必須依靠這一代領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的務(wù)實精神、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力和果敢決斷。可以說,朱（金容）基總理的這次訪問,不僅增加了兩國之間的相互了解,而且還加深了兩國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人之間的友誼和互信。
而這種友誼和互信,正是雙邊關(guān)系必不可缺少的基礎(chǔ)
Like other Chinese leaders, Mr Zhu expressed keen interest in Singapore's success story and high regard for its far-sighted leaders.
After Mr Zhu's appointment as China's premier, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew described him as a respectable person though not necessarily a person liked by all.
Likewise, Mr Zhu has a high regard for SM Lee. However, his comments have not been made public.
Ties between the two leaders are close. Not long ago, Mr Zhu hosted a banquet in honour of SM Lee in Beijing, where they had a meeting session. Recently, the old friends met again at the Mandarin Hotel in Singapore.
Mr Zhu reportedly told his Chinese working party after the meeting that SM Lee has many inspiring ideas. The veteran politician, who studied abroad in his young days, has a broad horizon. Hence he learned a lot from his conversations with the Senior Minister. Clearly, the Chinese Premier has great admiration for SM Lee.
Recently, Mr Zhu met Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Manila. A few days later, they met up in Singapore again in the Istana. It was a “very casual” talk, Mr Zhu told the Chinese officials later. Apparently it was a cosy meeting.
At the invitation of Mr Zhu, PM Goh will be making a visit to China next year. No doubt, these friendly visits will warm ties further.
After his first visit to Singapore in 1990 as the Mayor of Shanghai, Mr Zhu soon implemented a series of reforms based on Singapore's Central Provident Fund scheme and housing experience, which he modified to suit Shanghai's conditions, he told Singapore's media.
During his recent visit, Mr Zhu updated Singapore on the latest developments in China's reforms. His impressions of Singapore have deepened as well.
According to official sources, Mr Zhu told Chinese officials during an internal session that despite its smallness and lack of resources, Singapore has made great progress in just a few decades. It was really quite a feat. Such stellar achievements could not be possible without a good workforce.
So, similarly, China faces the same challenge to upgrade its own human resourse in this regard. It is important for China to cooperate with Singapore, the premier said.
When Mr Zhu visited Temasek Holdings, he was greatly impressed. The way the institution is managed and supervised is worth learning, he said.
However, he stressed that China's market economy is one with socialist characteristics. Therefore the country cannot practise privatisation in the way the Temasek Holdings can, although many sectors of its economy can be open up.
As time was short, Mr Zhu was not able to delve deeper into some of the issues. However, he hoped that both sides would continue in their exchanges and discussions.
Speaking at a lecture organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies later, Mr Zhu praised Singapore for its role as a bridge linking East and West and the creativity of its people. “Your country has impressed me greatly,” he told participants.
And Mr Zhu impressed Singaporeans enormously, too. His charisma and pragmatic ways enhance China's image and boost international confidence in China.
Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who chaired the meeting at ISEAS, made an insightful comment on China's leadership.
A major part of international confidence in China depended on investors' assessment of the leadership in charge, he said. “China depends on their pragmatism, competence and resolve to ascend greater heights in the new millennium,” he added.
In a nutshell, Mr Zhu's visit has not only brought about a deeper understanding between China and Singapore but also forged closer friendship and mutual trust between leaders on both sides. This is an important foundation for healthy bilateral relations.
朱（金容）基重視新加坡經(jīng)驗
朱（金容）基總理是一個非常自信的人,同時又謙遜坦誠,虛懷若谷。在新加坡為期三天的正式訪問中,這種令人欽佩的品德再次展露無遺。如同中國其他領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人一樣,他不僅對新加坡的一些成功經(jīng)驗表現(xiàn)出了濃厚的興趣,而且還對新加坡領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的遠(yuǎn)見卓識極為欣賞。
在朱（金容）基當(dāng)選中國總理之后,李光耀資政曾經(jīng)評論說,朱（金容）基也許不是所有人都喜歡的人,但卻是令人尊敬的人。不為外人所知的是,朱（金容）基也非常敬重和欣賞李資政,只可惜他的有關(guān)言論并未見諸報端。
朱總理和李資政之間的交往可以說相當(dāng)密切。不久前,當(dāng)李資政在北京訪問時,朱（金容）基就曾設(shè)宴熱情款待,兩人相談甚歡。這次在新加坡,朱（金容）基在他下榻的文華酒店恭候李資政,老友重逢,分外親切。據(jù)有關(guān)官員透露,在會晤結(jié)束之后,朱（金容）基對中方工作人員說,李資政的很多思想都很有啟發(fā)性,他年青時在國外受教育,見識廣,視野開闊,所以每次和他談話都能學(xué)到很多東西。
從這番講話中可以看出,朱（金容）基總理對李資政的欽佩之情油然而生。
在訪問新加坡之前,朱（金容）基曾與吳作棟總理在馬尼拉見過面。幾十個小時之后,兩人又在新加坡總統(tǒng)府舉行了會談。朱（金容）基后來對中方人員說,他和吳作棟總理不僅談得很好,而且“談得很隨便”?？梢韵胍?這是朋友間輕松與和諧的聚會。應(yīng)朱（金容）
基的邀請,吳作棟總理將在明年再次訪問中國。毫無疑問,通過這些頻繁的互訪和接觸,兩國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人之間的友誼將不斷加深,雙邊關(guān)系也會隨之更加密切。
在抵達(dá)新加坡當(dāng)天,朱（金容）基總理對新聞媒介說,1990年他以上海市市長身分首次來訪,把新加坡的公積金制度和住房建設(shè)經(jīng)驗帶了回去,并在加以修改之后予以推行。在這次訪問期間,他不僅把中國改革開放的嶄新形象帶到新加坡,同時也加深了對新加坡的良好印象。
據(jù)有關(guān)官員介紹,朱（金容）基在一個內(nèi)部場合語重心長地說,新加坡這么小,又缺乏資源,經(jīng)過短短幾十年的努力就已經(jīng)發(fā)展到今天這個地步,確實很不簡單。這些成就的取得,全靠人的素質(zhì)。我們中國現(xiàn)在面臨的問題就是人才的培養(yǎng)和訓(xùn)練,因此,在這方面與新加坡進(jìn)行合作是很重要的。
在訪問期間,朱（金容）基總理還興致勃勃地參觀了淡馬錫控股,印象極為深刻。他說,這種控股形式值得中國國有企業(yè)在改革中拿來參考,尤其是它的經(jīng)營監(jiān)管制度值得借鑒。中國的很多行業(yè)可以放開,但由于是社會主義市場經(jīng)濟,因此不能像淡馬錫控股那樣搞私有化。他還說,由于參觀的時間太短,一些問題還沒有談清楚,因此希望新中有關(guān)部門今后繼續(xù)進(jìn)行切磋和交流。
上星期二下午,朱（金容）基總理在東南亞研究所舉辦的演講會上說,新加坡是聯(lián)結(jié)東西方的橋梁,新加坡人民有很強的創(chuàng)造力,“貴國給我留下的印象是深刻的”。同樣,在這次短暫的訪問中,朱（金容）基也給新加坡留下了美好的回憶。他的求實作風(fēng)、實干精神和人格魅力,不僅為中國的國際形象添姿增彩,而且也增強了外部世界對中國的信心。
在朱（金容）基的演講會上,會議主席李顯龍副總理就中國的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層發(fā)表了一番頗有見地的評論。他說,在很大程度上,國際社會對中國的信心取決于外國投資者對中國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層的評價。中國若要在下個千年里攀登新的高峰,就必須依靠這一代領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的務(wù)實精神、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力和果敢決斷。可以說,朱（金容）基總理的這次訪問,不僅增加了兩國之間的相互了解,而且還加深了兩國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人之間的友誼和互信。
而這種友誼和互信,正是雙邊關(guān)系必不可缺少的基礎(chǔ)