Singapore, China to open 'fast lane' for essential travel next month
Singapore and China have agreed to launch a “fast-lane” arrangement in early June to facilitate essential travel for business and official purposes, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on May 29.
Check-in counters without passengers at Changi Airport. (Photo: Reuters)
Singapore (VNA) - Singapore and China have agreed tolaunch a “fast-lane” arrangement in early June to facilitate essential travelfor business and official purposes, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA) said in a statement on May 29.
The arrangement will be first applied between Singapore andthe six Chinese provinces or municipalities directly under the centralgovernment - Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang,with effective COVID-19 prevention and control measures being in place toensure safety.
The measure was discussed at the 2nd China-Singapore jointmeeting on COVID-19, which was held in the form of video conference on May 28.
During the meeting, the two countries spoke highly of themutual support rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance interms of medical treatment and stay for each other’s citizens during theperiod.
They agreed to support the leading role of the World HealthOrganization in the global campaign against the novel coronavirus, the MFAsaid.
Both nations also backed the early convening of the SpecialForeign Ministers’ Meeting to implement the outcomes of the earlier SpecialASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 last April and agreed on the importance ofenhancing regional cooperation on prevention and control of the disease./.
China is willing to work with Singapore to safeguard the rule-based multilateral trade system, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his meeting with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in Beijing on May 23.
Singapore and China have signed nine agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in various fields such as customs clearance, intellectual property management, education, innovation and communications, and smart city development.
Singapore and China have reached eight MoUs on promoting cooperation in areas including financial services, trade in food products, transport and logistics.
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Check-in counters without passengers at Changi Airport. (Photo: Reuters) 
