Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Monday.

Lee said that the bilateral ties have been growing rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1990. The achievements are many in bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the militaries are also expanding and growing.

It is in the fundamental interests of the peoples to boost the cooperation between Singapore and China, and of great significance to regional security as well, he said.

Singapore holds steadfastly on to the one-China policy and is opposed to the independence of Taiwan, Lee said.

Liang said the bilateral relations have been ever stronger and covers an ever wider scope. As the international and regional situation is undergoing fresh complicated and deep changes, both China and Singapore share the tasks such as ensuring stability, growing the economy and improving the livelihood of the people.

The two sides should boost the friendship, grow the mutual trust and the cooperation, Liang said.

They also exchanged views on issues concerning the regional security.

Liang is visiting Singapore at the invitation of Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean. He is on a Southeast Asian tour that will also take him to Indonesia and the Philippines.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2011)