SINGAPORE (May 12): The fifth Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) Meeting for the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) was held on Tuesday via video-conference using the CCI International Dedicated Connectivity (IDC).
CCI is the third inter-governmental project between Singapore and China.
During the meeting, co-chairs Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo and Chongqing Mayor Tang Liangzhi discussed the progress achieved by the CCI since its launch, and discussed the initiative’s next steps.
Following the launch of the IDC in September 2019, a Working Group on Policy Innovation (WG-PI) and a Working Group on IDC Adoption (WG-IDCA) were officially formed last month to promote policy innovation in cross-border data flows, data protection, telco & infocommunications services and trade, as well as provide policy support for the application and development of the IDC.
Thirty-four project proposals including solutions in areas such as trade logistics, smart manufacturing, smart tourism and Internet of things (IoT) have also been submitted under the CCI. In addition, Singapore and Chongqing have agreed to work on a business matching platform portal that allows companies to seek potential partners and develop solutions and projects online.
In the same meeting, Teo and Tang also discussed ways to deepen collaboration under the CCI’s three other priority sectors, namely financial services, aviation, and transport and logistics.
The co-chairs also explored how both sides could further strengthen the CCI-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC) network by welcoming all interested partners to work with Singapore and Chongqing to do so.
Prior to the meeting, Teo and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing spoke to Chongqing Party Secretary Chen Min’er to discuss utilising the CCI-ILSTC as a viable alternative for the flow of essential goods such as food supplies, and maintaining trade routes and supply chains amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teo said, “Singapore and China are important economic partners that share a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship. Through the CCI-ILSTC initiative, we will bolster the resilience of our trade routes and supply chains to facilitate the smooth flow of essential goods such as food and medical products in support of COVID-19 management efforts.”
Eight Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were also signed among different organisations for collaborations in sectors such as financial services, trade in food products, transport and logistics. The signing of the MOUs was witnessed by all four parties.
