Speech by Minister Chee Hong Tat at Lianhe Zaobao Singapore-China Forum 2026

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

Good morning, I would like to thank Lianhe Zaobao for bringing us together to exchange perspectives on this important topic.

When I spoke at this Forum last year, the theme then was "Finding Common Ground in a Disordered World". The US-China relationship remains complex, but recent developments including the meeting between President Trump and President Xi in May suggest that bilateral relations have become more stable and there is a growing understanding of how both countries can manage their differences by maintaining communication, seeking practical areas of cooperation where possible, and preventing differences from escalating into conflict.

Beyond the geopolitical situation, technological advancements continue to transform our economies, while climate change underscores the urgent need for sustainable development. At the same time, societies are grappling with the impact of demographic shifts, including dealing with difficult issues like ageing and immigration.

These developments require countries to adapt to new realities in an increasingly interconnected yet ever more complex world. They also remind us of an enduring truth: despite our different circumstances and priorities, the challenges shaping our future are often shared by many countries. In some cases, our fates are intertwined as we either swim or sink together.

We recognise that no country has all the answers, nor the capacity and resources to act alone. The foundations of past successes share a common thread: trust and openness, a willingness to learn from one another, and a shared commitment to practical collaboration for mutually beneficial outcomes. These are values Singapore has long embraced and continue to uphold - not out of idealism, but from pragmatic conviction and lived experience that these remain relevant to pave our way forward.

It is in this spirit that Singapore and China can look forward to continuing to expand and deepen our collaboration, building on the strong foundation that generations before us have laid over the years. These bilateral partnerships need not stop at our borders - the lessons learnt and the solutions developed can ripple outward, benefiting the wider region and the world.

Against this backdrop, I would like to suggest three areas where Singapore and China can continue to deepen our collaboration for mutually beneficial outcomes:

First, accelerating the green transition, and in the process strengthening energy resilience;

Second, harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to improve jobs and productivity; and

Third, caring for our seniors in an ageing society, by enabling them to age well in their communities.

Accelerating the green transition and strengthening energy resilience

Accelerating the green transition is one of the most pressing tasks of our time as a global community. Climate change impacts all countries regardless of differences in geography, resources, or development pathways. We thus share a common responsibility - to one another and also to the generations that come after us - to build a more sustainable world.

But energy transition and strengthening energy resilience are not just national endeavours. As demand for reliable and sustainable energy grows, international cooperation will become increasingly important.

China has established itself as a global leader in renewable energy and clean energy technologies. Its capabilities in solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems can contribute meaningfully to regional efforts to strengthen energy resilience and to advance decarbonisation methods, including the ASEAN Power Grid. China is also a global leader in nuclear energy, including small modular reactors.

There is much we can learn from China's experience in deploying and scaling clean energy solutions, just as Singapore can lend our expertise in sustainable urban planning and integrated development. Together, I believe we can develop practical solutions that not only support our own climate ambitions but also contribute to a more sustainable future for other countries in the region.

Harnessing AI and robotics to improve jobs and productivity

Moving on to AI and robotics, much of the conversation today centres on whether AI will displace human workers and take away jobs. I understand these concerns. We should also at the same time focus our attention on how to use AI and other advanced technologies to generate new jobs, to improve the way we work, and prepare our people for the new roles created.

Singapore's approach has been guided by a clear principle: new technologies, including AI and robotics, should improve jobs, raise productivity, and ultimately benefit our businesses and our workers.

In the Built Environment (BE) sector, many firms have been leveraging innovative solutions to achieve productivity improvements and cost savings, such as using robots for painting and facility management, and using AI-powered façade inspection system.

These technologies can help free up our workers to focus on higher value tasks, and also create new job roles, such as digital construction managers and smart facilities management professionals.

As we embrace these technologies, there will be new opportunities for our startups and technology companies too.

China is a world leader in AI, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing. Its experiences in deploying these technologies at scale, across construction, logistics, urban infrastructure and many other areas, offer valuable insights into how innovation can drive productivity across industries. There is much we can learn from China, and benefit from its technologies.

Through deeper exchanges across governments, industry, and academia, Singapore and China can translate innovative ideas into practical solutions while ensuring that technological progress remains anchored on improving lives and expanding opportunities for our people.

This goes beyond technological capabilities, as technology cannot exist in a vacuum without the necessary regulatory, economic, and social frameworks to support its usage in the society. These are areas where Singapore and China can continue to collaborate and develop workable solutions together.

Caring for our seniors by enabling them to age well in their communities

Let me now turn to a third area, which is on demographic changes and an ageing society. This is an area where many developed societies share similar challenges - how to enable our seniors to age well, healthily and gracefully. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans and one in five Chinese citizens will be aged 65 and above, placing both societies within the super-aged category. The scale of this demographic shift is significant. Our seniors, whose contributions have shaped the nations we are today, are deeply valued by both our societies. It is this shared conviction that drives China and Singapore to act with urgency, and take deliberate actions to enable as many of our seniors as possible to have good health and also peace of mind to enjoy their golden years.

In Singapore, we have strengthened housing support for our seniors. For example, we have built Community Care Apartments, which integrate senior-friendly housing with care services.

At the same time, we know that many of our seniors prefer to age in place, within communities which they have been staying in and are familiar with, and supported by their loved ones.

We have therefore taken the steps to ensure that those who prefer to age in their own homes can do so safely and comfortably. They won't have to move from where they are currently staying at.

Within their homes, we have schemes like the Enhancement for Active Seniors Programme (EASE), where the Government subsidises the installation of senior-friendly features, like grab bars and ramps, to make it safer for our seniors to engage in their daily activities at home.

Outside their homes, we also ensure that the neighbourhoods and the precincts are equally senior-friendly, providing barrier-free access, dementia-friendly elements, and fitness trails through our estate upgrading programmes.

We recognise that beyond providing senior-friendly infrastructure, our seniors also need adequate care and support from within their community.

This was the thinking behind our decision to introduce Age Well Neighbourhoods (AWNs). The Government is rolling out four Age Well Neighbourhoods across Singapore, in areas with high concentrations of seniors, including my constituency in Toa Payoh.

Over 110,000 seniors living in these neighbourhoods are expected to benefit from enhanced care services and improved access to active ageing programmes, closer to where they live.

I want to also highlight similar progress in this space that China has made. The concept of mutual-aid eldercare 低龄帮高龄 or having younger seniors support older seniors through both practical assistance and emotional care - this is not new and has long been part of the social fabric.

But what is noteworthy is how China has in recent years given it renewed impetus, with a deliberate and expanded government push to bring it to scale.

The philosophy behind it is one that is worth embracing: that seniors have a meaningful role to play in the lives of those around them. They are not just receiving help and support, they are also providing help and support to others around them, and the society can come together to provide the opportunities to support and empower our seniors.

There is much potential for Singapore and China to exchange experiences and learn from each other in this area, particularly on how we design our physical environment for longevity, how we harness technology to support independent living, and how we build the community bonds and social infrastructure to enable our seniors to age well.

These solutions, once developed, can also benefit other countries because they are also experiencing ageing to different degrees in their populations.

Next Chapter Ahead for China

I would also like to take this opportunity to talk about three areas where China's ongoing policy reviews are important, not only for China's own development, but for the stability and prosperity of the global economy as a whole.

The first is the continued expansion of domestic consumption. China has already set out a clear direction to advance policies that support a more balanced and sustainable growth model, with the services sector playing an increasingly important role.

A vibrant services sector is key to China's next phase of high-quality development. Deepening domestic consumption holds multiple and mutually reinforcing benefits: it responds to the aspirations of China's growing middle class; creates new employment opportunities in the services sector, because we know with technological advancement and automation, the manufacturing sector will not be able to provide as many jobs as before; and it also contributes to a more balanced global trading environment, which is a shared interest for all nations.

The second area is the continued efforts to stabilise China's property market, which remains a priority for ensuring social harmony and long-term economic confidence. The Chinese Government could consider repurposing some of the existing housing stock into affordable housing for young families and young people, including migrant workers from other provinces who come to the cities to look for employment. Marriage and pro-creation incentives can be offered as part of the housing subsidy package, as China, similar to Singapore, is also facing a challenge with low fertility.

Such an approach would represent a win-win outcome: it supports the healthy adjustment of the property market while simultaneously improving intergenerational mobility and ensuring that the fruits of China's development are shared broadly across society. This is also in line with the broader vision of common prosperity that China has set as a guiding principle for its development path.

The third area is one I also touched on at last year's forum: the enduring importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges among the younger generation.

I firmly believe that the foundation of peaceful and prosperous global development lies in building mutual understanding between the citizens of different countries, through direct face-to-face interactions and friendships. In a world where Artificial Intelligence is used more pervasively, these genuine human connections become even more important.

We should continue to encourage and support young people to experience different countries and cultures first-hand, and to develop the understanding and perspective that no social media platform or online content can offer. These will help to build future bridges of trust and goodwill.

Specifically for China and the US - because as we mentioned earlier, this is the most important relationship on the global stage - it is important for young people from the two countries to get to know one another, and if possible, spend some time in each other's country and make friends with people from the other country.

We must avoid a situation where our young become inward-looking and lose their curiosity in understanding a different society and culture.

Or worse, if they start to view the other side as an enemy or a threat, instead of just a competitor that we can co-exist with, and even collaborate with on certain issues, when interests are aligned.

Conclusion

Before I conclude, please allow me to say some words in Mandarin.

今天，我们面对的共同挑战，是真切的，是严峻的。前路虽然艰难，但正是这份艰难，磨砺出我们最需要的那份坚韧。

而正是这份坚韧，让我们更加明白：唯有携手合作，方能共克万难。

在这个充满变数的时代，我相信没有任何一个国家能够独善其身，孤身前行。所以我们需要的，不是筑墙自守，而是搭桥相连。

新加坡和中国在地理上相隔，在体制上有所不同，但对开放、稳定与共同繁荣的追求，让我们成为同一条道路上的好伙伴。

新中两国携手合作，不仅能够实现互惠共赢，更能将合作的成果惠及整个区域，甚至整个世界。

我衷心期待新中关系行稳致远，两国携手书写更美好的时代篇章。

谢谢大家。