China and Singapore yesterday singed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a joint committee on bilateral co-operation, a move that should pave the way for additional opportunities for closer economic ties, officials said.

Wen Jiabao meets with Goh Chok Tong.

Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong attended the signing ceremony after their talks.

The committee was designed to push for bilateral economic, trade and technological co-operation. It should tailor a working "blueprint'' for a partnership to meet new situations, according to a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

Noting that collaboration by the two countries in the high technology sector has already shown positive effects, Wen said China hopes Singapore will increase investments in its western region and step up bilateral co-operation in the fields of science and technology, environmental protection and infrastructure construction.

China hopes Singapore continues to play a connecting role in the process of the internationalization of Chinese enterprises, Wen added.

The Chinese premier hailed the upcoming joint committee as a major outcome of Goh Chok Tong's six-day working visit.

"I believe the establishment of this joint committee will further consolidate bilateral economic ties,'' the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman quoted Wen as saying.

Singapore is ready to further expand economic co-operation and establish an overall economic partnership with China, the Singaporean prime minister said.

The two sides also exchanged views on Singapore's participation in the development of China's northeast region and the consolidation of regional co-operation.

China and Singapore have seen increasing closer political relations and remarkable economic collaboration since the two countries established diplomatic ties 13 years ago.

Wen said the two countries should keep high-level exchange visits going.

Goh Chok Tong echoed Wen's evaluation of bilateral relations and said Singapore highly appreciates China's positive role in dealing with Asian and world affairs.

China's willingness to establish a free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) showed China's trust in the ASEAN and proved that a more powerful China would not be a threat to the ASEAN, he said.

China could play an important role in revitalizing Asia, he added.

He said his country is willing to expand co-operation with China and construct a comprehensive economic partnership.

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