Singapore's relevance to China hinges on understanding latter's evolving priorities: Chan

Interactions via a "special channel" between Singapore's public servants and officials from the Communist Party of China (CPC) offer the Republic a rare window into Beijing's thinking, and allows it to be more relevant in sharing insights about common policy challenges.

- Kok Yufeng

These range from geopolitical shifts to pivoting to high-quality growth economically to social issues such as an ageing population and young people with increasingly diverse aspirations, said Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.

He was speaking with local media at an interview on Nov 13 ahead of the upcoming Singapore-China Forum on Leadership, a biennial forum that brings together senior members of Singapore's public service and the CPC’s Central Organisation Department.

"I don't think the (CPC) has many such interactions with many other countries. We are a very unique partner," said Mr Chan, who is also Singapore’s Defence Minister.

"It allows us to delve into topics of leadership development at a much deeper level and this allows us, and helps us, to understand China better. Not just what they do and how they do, but why they do what they do," he added.

Such understanding would allow Singapore to cooperate better with China and find new opportunities for collaboration, he said.

Dubbed "the largest human resources department in the world", the CPC's Central Organisation Department oversees the deployment of thousands of party cadres throughout China's political system, and has a hand in grooming and promoting future party leaders.

Its head, Mr Shi Taifeng, who is a member of the CPC's Political Bureau, will be co-chairing the leadership forum with Mr Chan, who has co-chaired the previous two editions, one of which was held in Beijing in 2023 and the other held virtually in 2021 because of Covid-19 restrictions at the time.

The 10th edition of the forum, which takes place on Nov 18, is themed "Transformative Leadership in Times of Great Change" and coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and China.

Mr Chan noted at the interview at the Treasury building that China has to navigate a very changed world today.