Singapore and China strengthen bilateral youth and cultural cooperation

1. Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong and the President of All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), Mr He Junke have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further deepen the two countries' youth engagement and volunteerism exchanges. Earlier, Mr Wong and Mr Luo Shugang, Culture Minister for the People's Republic of China also signed the 7th Singapore – China Executive Programme on Cultural Cooperation.

2. Mr Wong said, “This year marks 25 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. Our relations have been growing across many areas including the arts and heritage, sport and youth. I had good discussions with my counterparts and we signed new agreements to strengthen our cultural cooperation and youth exchanges. This will enable our artists and youths to have more opportunities for collaborations with their counterparts in China. Singaporeans can also look forward to more cultural performances and museum exhibitions from China”.

MOU between Singapore's NYC and China's ACYF

3. Mr Wong, who is also the Chairman of National Youth Council (NYC), values the cooperation in the field of youth between the two countries. Under the MOU, the NYC and ACYF will work together on joint youth development programmes, community service activities, and projects that enhance learning by youths of both countries. Youths in both countries can also look forward to exchange programmes that will allow them more opportunities for learning and cross-cultural understanding.

4. Previously, the NYC and ACYF in January 2008 had signed an MOU on youth cooperation to strengthen regular exchanges and cooperation between the two organisations. To date, more than 100 youth leaders from Singapore have participated in the various Youth Exchange Programmes such as the annual China-ASEAN Youth Camp.  The latest MOU, aligned with NYC's current focus on community service and youth volunteerism, will supersede the previous MOU signed in 2008.

7th Singapore-China Executive Programme

5. Mr Wong also met Mr Luo Shugang, China's Minister for Culture. On 16th April 2015, they signed the 7th Singapore–China Executive Programme (EP) under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation signed between Singapore and China in 1996.

6. This cultural agreement paves the way for both countries to strengthen and deepen arts and heritage co-operation and people-to-people exchanges in the areas of visual, performing and literary arts, conservation, museum and library programmes.

7. The MOU and EP were signed during Mr Wong's official visit to Beijing, which will end this Saturday, 18 April 2015.