China and Singapore on Monday tried to mend recent strains in their bilateral relationship by signing a host of agreements during the 13th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting, the highest bilateral forum between the two Asian countries.  

Total four agreements were signed on economic cooperation and infrastructure development between China's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. Mr. Teo arrived in Beijing on Sunday to participate in the high-level annual meeting forum. 

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These four agreements will focus on the development of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, Chongqing Connectivity Initiative and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. Both governments have already started work on the first three projects and the fresh MOU's signed on Monday will deepen their cooperation further. 

Besides, both countries have vowed to enhance their collaboration further on President Xi Jingping's ambitious "Belt and Road" project.   

"China places high importance on developing ties with Singapore and wishes to work together with Singapore to deliver on the various agreements between the leaders," Mr. Zhang was quoted saying during the meeting, according to China's state media Xinhua.

Mr. Teo responded by taking a note of the recent strains in their bilateral relationship by claiming that "even among the best of neighbors and friends" there are major differences in perceptions due to divergent issues.

China and Singapore have hosted the JCBC meeting each year since 2004, except for the last year, which clearly reflected serious cracks in their bilateral relationship. The South China Sea dispute has been the main source of the tension, with Singapore increasingly siding with the U.S and China's other regional rivals.

The seizure of city state's nine armored vehicles in Hong Kong last year marked a new low point in their bilateral relationship. These military shipments were returning from Taiwan after they were reportedly used in military exercises conducted in the island nation.

Tagschina, China and Singapore, Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, Zhang Gaoli, Teo Chee Hean