As part of efforts to enhance the international exposure of our students, the Youth Interns Exchange Scheme (YES) was jointly established by Ministry of Education, Singapore and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) of China in October 2019.

Originally scheduled to be launched last year, the scheme was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But we remain undeterred and the Implementation Agreement was signed by Singapore’s Ambassador to China His Excellency Lui Tuck Yew on MOE’s behalf and MHRSS’ Vice Minister Mr You Jun this week in Beijing.

YES will help about 500 full-time students and recent graduates from polytechnics and Autonomous Universities from Singapore and the equivalent from China, to participate in overseas internships in our two countries.

Our students can look forward to updates on internship opportunities in China on the YES website (yes.org.sg) when travel resumes.

新加坡和中国签署协议，将在明年推展青年实习交流计划。每年有多达500名大学和理工学院的新加坡籍学生可申请实习签证，到中国的公司实习长达六个月。

同样的，中国大学和相等大专学府的中国籍学生也能到新加坡实习长达六个月，每年人数多达500名。

我国首次与另一国家签双边实习交流计划协议

目前，本地的大专学生无法申请这类实习签证。青年实习交流计划也会开放给刚从大学和理工学院毕业的学生，申请时段必须在他们毕业后的一年内。

教育部长王乙康昨天与中国人力资源社会保障部副部长游钧在新中双边合作联合委员会的第15次会议上签署协议。这是新加坡首次与另一个国家签署双边实习交流计划的协议。新加坡也是与中国签署协议的第一个亚洲国家。

计划将让新加坡青年有机会到中国体验工作，加深对中国经济和文化的了解，与中方建立新的联系。中国青年也能到新加坡实习，加深对新加坡的认识，从而促进两国人民的往来。

教育部文告引述王乙康说:“在全球化时代，能与来自不同文化背景的人一起工作是21世纪所需技能。我有信心学生们会 借助青年实习交流计划的良机，深入了解中国和它动力十足的企业家生态系统，从而扩大视野并提升关键的软技能。我 很高兴中国学生也有机会到新加坡实习，更好地了解新加坡和我们跟东南亚的紧密联系。如果这些学生将来打算创业或 到海外投资，我希望他们会把对方国家考虑在内。”

通商中国会负责计划的执行工作，包括提供实习机会和签证申请的信息，以及根据企业的需求配对适合的人选。申请程 序会在较迟后公布。

文告引述通商中国总裁陈佩玲说:“青年实习交流计划别具意义，我们很高兴能为这个重要的双边项目搭桥铺路，实现计 划的目的。这计划有助于意欲开拓全球市场的新加坡企业培养人才，增强人才储备，同时加强中国企业对新加坡及周边 区域的认识。

“通商中国将为青年人才和企业搭建一站式的服务网站，促进人才与企业之间的配对。最重要的是，这项目有助两国青 年更好地了解彼此的商业与社会文化，从而建立更长久的合作关系，共话未来。”

主修英文的新加坡国立大学学生翁丽娴（22岁）在“国大海外学院”计划下，去年7月至今年中到中国学习，期间有机会 在教育科技平台“优蛋网”（Udentity）实习。她认为，中国市场很大，如果她将来有机会到当地工作，求学时参与的 交流和实习计划相信能让她占有优势。

The two countries signed a raft of pacts – from Customs twinning to a smart city project in Shenzhen and a youth internship exchange programme – at their 15th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting.

The substantial number of deals – up from seven signed at last year’s talks – could be seen as a sign of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, as Singapore transitions to a new generation of political leaders.

Yesterday, the co-chairmen, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng, acknowledged the milestone in their opening remarks at the bilateral meeting and subsequent council meeting.

Referring to the 30th anniversary of relations between Singapore and China next year, Mr Han said there were a lot of expectations about this year’s meeting as the two countries face common challenges amid a wave of protectionism and anti-globalisation sweeping the world.

With China facing a prolonged trade war with the United States and Singapore’s economy flatlining, there is greater impetus for both countries to cooperate economically, say analysts.

Mr Heng, who is co-chairing the council for the first time, said both countries attach great importance to the annual summit, which is reflected by “the high-level representation and substantial achievements” of the projects.

Referring to the significant number of fourth-generation leaders from Singapore attending the meeting, he said their presence will hopefully “pave the way for the next generation of leaders to strengthen our bilateral relationship”.

Among the agreements signed was one between Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Shenzhen government on a smart city initiative that will connect business ecosystems and promote links between people and businesses from the island-state and the Chinese technology capital.

MCI said in a statement that the projects under this initiative will be in areas like digital connectivity, talent exchange and development, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

Singapore aims to be the world’s first smart nation.

Another agreement is for internship exchanges for students and recent graduates of polytechnics and universities.

To be launched next year, the programme will allow up to 500 Singaporean full-time students and recent graduates each year to work at a China-based company of their choice for up to six months. Chinese students will also have similar opportunities.

This is the first bilateral internship exchange scheme that Singapore has with another country, and Singapore is the first Asian country to have such an arrangement with China.

Singapore Customs and its Chinese counterpart also signed a deal for smoother Customs clearance for Singapore’s intergovernmental project in Chongqing.

Yesterday, Mr Heng and Mr Han also announced that the upgrade to the two countries’ free trade agreement will take effect today.

The upgrade allows more petrochemical products to qualify for preferential treatment and grants Singapore companies greater access to China’s legal, maritime and construction services sector.

It also includes enhancements in investment protection, Customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedial measures, as well as commitments in new areas such as e-commerce, competition and the environment.

The free trade agreement has existed since 2009 and was China’s first comprehensive bilateral free trade pact with an Asian country.

Negotiations for its upgrade started in 2015 and took eight rounds of talks over three years.

In another announcement, China’s central bank agreed to grant a settlement agent licence to DBS, which will allow it to trade, settle and provide custody for interbank bond market instruments on behalf of foreign investors.

During yesterday’s meeting, the two sides also discussed the progress of their three joint projects: Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Tianjin Eco-city and Chongqing Connectivity Initiative.

The oldest of the three, the 25-year-old Suzhou project is moving beyond its brick-and-mortar industrial park beginnings, with Singapore now stepping in with professional services, intellectual property management and financial services to support Chinese companies to go global.

In the innovation space, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) will have its first foreign outpost, called the A*Star Partners’ Centre@SIP, to facilitate partnerships between Singapore and Chinese companies.

Tianjin Eco-city, which now has 8,200 registered companies and over 100,000 people living or working in its 30 sq km area, is now developing into a smart city, with pilot projects such as for autonomous public buses and smart carparks.

Singapore and China are also looking to replicate the eco-city’s model in other Chinese cities and Belt and Road countries.

Chongqing is a relatively new focus and is Singapore’s effort to plug into China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The two countries are working on a long-term project that will connect the less-developed western region of China to the rest of the world.

Singapore is providing modern services in the areas of logistics, financial services, aviation and information and communications technology.

The two sides are also working on a trade corridor that will integrate western China with South-east Asia by connecting Chongqing to Qinzhou in Guangxi by rail, and to Singapore and beyond by sea.

China’s BRI is a signature project by President Xi Jinping, whose vision is to create a 21st century Silk Road of overland corridors and shipping lanes.

新加坡与中国的关系非常好且富于实质，两国明年迎来建交30周年，将在坚实的基础上把双边合作带上更高水平。

我国副总理王瑞杰与中国副总理韩正昨天（10月15日）在重庆共同主持新中双边合作联合委员会（Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation，简称JCBC）第15次会议。王瑞杰在会后接受新加坡媒体访问时，对新中双边关系作出上述评估。

王瑞杰昨天上午是首次以副总理、JCBC新方主席身份，与中方主席韩正共同主持会议。这也是JCBC作为新中最高层级的双边合作机制，首次在重庆召开会议，地点是渝州宾馆。

新加坡总理公署发出的文告说，两位副总理在会前举行了双边会见，对去年以来新中关系的绝佳状态交换看法，并且都期待双方密切合作，进一步强化现有与新领域的合作。

王瑞杰在会见中说，此次JCBC会议是提升新中两国关系轨道的契机，在双赢基础上加强建设性合作。他指出，JCBC今天的地位有赖于历代新中联合主席的经营，他期待在这一坚实的基础上发展，让两国关系更上一层楼。

王瑞杰也提到此次与他一起访华的新加坡第四代领导班子成员。“我们希望此次会议能为我们（两国）下一代领导人铺路，加强我们的双边关系。”