Distinguished Mr. Lim Neo Chian, STB Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive,

Dear friends from afar,

Today is a memorable day. We are gathering here to welcome the first post-SARS Chinese tourist group to arrive in Singapore. Your arrival represents a return of the Chinese tourists to Singapore and a new boom in Sino-Singaporean tourism cooperation. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore and the China National Tourist Office in Singapore, I would like to express my warmest welcome to you.

The recent years witnessed a positive tendency in the development of Sino-Singaporean relations. Exchanges of both personnel and commodities maintain a rising trend. Bilateral trade volume hit US $14 billion last year. In the first half of this year, it reached a new record of US 8.5 billion, up 43% over the same period in 2002. Around 1.2 million people traveled between Singapore and China, among them 670 thousand from China to Singapore, and more than 500 thousand from Singapore to China.

The sudden outbreak of SARS led to stagnation in many aspects of exchanges between the two countries. Fortunately, through both countries’ joint efforts, China and Singapore achieved a success against SARS. Resumption and development have been made in the cooperation in politics, economics & trade, science & technology, culture and other areas, which demonstrates a vigorous vitality in Sino-Singaporean relations. On July 25, the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made a brief and successful visit to Singapore, which generated a new impetus for the bilateral relations.

Tourism Cooperation is an important aspect of the development of Sino-Singaporean relations, beneficial to enhancing the bilateral relationship, promoting economic prosperity and deepening friendship between the two peoples as well. Since July 1, the Chinese government has exempted ordinary Singaporean travelers from visa for a stay in China less than 15 days. The Singaporean side is also considering taking some new measures to facilitate Chinese travelers’ entry into Singapore. I sincerely wish more progress to be made in the Sino-Singaporean tourism cooperation.

I wish that all the members in the Chinese tourist group would enjoy their stay in Singapore! Have a pleasant time! I would like to take this opportunity to express the sincerest gratitude to Singapore Tourist Board and friends from the tourism and air industries for your remarkable contribution to the Sino-Singaporean friendship!

Thank you!