Opening of China Cultural Centre

His Excellency Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China

Mr Goh Chok Tong
Emeritus Senior Minister of the Republic of Singapore

His Excellency Luo Shugang
Minister of Culture of the People's Republic of China

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. Good morning. I am delighted to be at today's opening of the China Cultural Centre, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and China.
   

2. 2015 has been a year of many milestones. President Tony Tan made a State Visit to China in July. We now are delighted  play host to President Xi Jinping for his first State Visit to Singapore. These visits testify the good relations that Singapore and China enjoy at the highest level, and across many sectors.
   

3. Indeed, Singapore enjoys warm cultural and people-to-people relations with China. In fact, many Singaporeans can trace their ancestral roots back to China.
   

4. Earlier this year, Minister Lawrence Wong visited Beijing for the seventh edition of the Singapore-China Executive Programme. This has paved the way for more cultural collaborations and partnerships between our institutions. Such exchanges, and with the establishment of the China Cultural Centre, will help us cultivate a deeper and richer appreciation of each other's arts and culture.

5. It leaves me to congratulate the China Cultural Centre on its opening, and to wish it every success.

6. Thank you.