Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on 3-day China visit for Beijing Xiangshan Forum

Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing is on a three-day visit to Beijing, China, from Tuesday (Sept 15).

In a statement on Monday evening, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the visit is at the invitation of Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun to attend the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum .

MINDEF said that Chan's visit underscores the longstanding, warm and friendly bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and China.

Now in its 13th edition, the forum is considered an important Track 1.5 platform for dialogue and cooperation on regional and global defence and security issues.

This year's forum is themed "Build consensus on stability, advance security governance together", and the Chinese defence minister is expected to open the forum on Tuesday with a fresh pitch for closer international co-operation within a multi-polar world, diplomats and analysts have said.

His Tuesday speech comes on the back of recent statements from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has called for greater representation for Global South countries in international affairs.

While in Beijing, Chan will meet with Dong and other senior Chinese and People's Liberation Army (PLA) leaders.

He will also speak at the forum.

At last year's forum, Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, used both Chinese and Western sayings to illustrate the choice that countries face between power and principles.

He cited Chinese President Xi as saying that while power may give temporary advantage, ultimately, reason determines victory, before quoting then-US Vice President Joe Biden who said: "All great powers can choose to demonstrate the power of their example, or to demonstrate the example of their power."

@asiaone In his closing at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing used both Chinese and western sayings to illustrate the point and choice that countries have between power and principles. #sgnews #Singapore #China #Defence #Military #Cooperation ♬ original sound - AsiaOne

国防部长陈振声从周二（9月15日）开始对中国北京进行为期三天的访问。

国防部周一晚间发表声明称，此次访问是应中国国防部长董军海军上将的邀请，出席第十三届北京香山论坛。

新加坡国防部表示，陈的访问凸显了新加坡和中国之间长期、友好和密切的双边防务关系。

该论坛现已举办至第 13 届，被认为是区域和全球防务安全问题上重要的 1.5 轨道对话与合作平台。

据外交官和分析人士称，今年的论坛主题是“凝聚共识，共建稳定，推进安全治理”，中国国防部长预计将于周二在论坛开幕式上再次呼吁在多极世界中加强国际合作。

他周二的讲话是在中国国家主席习近平最近发表讲话之后发表的，习近平呼吁在国际事务中给予全球南方国家更大的代表性。

在北京期间，陈将与董建华以及其他中国高级领导人和解放军领导人会面。

他也会在该论坛上发言。

在去年的论坛上，同时也是公共服务统筹部长的陈茂波引用了中国和西方的谚语，来说明各国在权力和原则之间面临的选择。

他引用中国国家主席习近平的话说，虽然权力可以带来暂时的优势，但最终，理性决定胜利；他还引用了时任美国副总统乔·拜登的话：“所有大国都可以选择展示其榜样的力量，或者展示其权力的榜样。”

@asiaone 在第十二届北京香山论坛闭幕式上，国防部长陈振声引用中西方谚语，阐述了国家在实力与原则之间所面临的抉择。#sgnews #Singapore #China #Defence #Military #Cooperation ♬ original sound - AsiaOne