Singapore-China ties on the right track. Here's why.

The 13th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting, the 18th China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting, the 9th China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council Meeting, and the First China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Joint Steering Council Meeting were held on Feb 27 in Beijing.

DPM Teo Chee Hean co-chaired the meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli.

Mr Zhang is a member of the Communist Party’s apex Politburo Standing Committee which currently has 7 members and is the most powerful decision-making body of the party.

The 13th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting

The 13th JCBC meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation in the areas of economic transformation, finance, people-to-people exchanges, and inclusive and sustainable development.  

The co-Chairs identified the “Belt and Road” initiative as a new and significant area of bilateral cooperation.  Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for partnerships between Singapore and Chinese companies venturing into regional markets, given Singapore’s position as a strategic hub for trade, transportation, finance and project management along the Maritime Silk Road.  

“China places high importance on developing ties with Singapore and wishes to work together with Singapore to deliver on the various agreements between the leaders, enhance political trust, strengthen strategic cooperation, build closer people-to-people ties and deepen bilateral cooperation.”

- China’s state media Xinhua said in a report on Mr Zhang’s meetings with Mr Teo.

DPM Teo and Vice-Premier Zhang Guoli at the 13th JCBC Meeting.

9th Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council Meeting co-chaired by

DPM Teo Chee Hean and Vice-Premier Zhang Guoli

RSN's port call at Qingdao, 23 - 26 April 2017

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Formidable-class frigate, RSS Intrepid, made a port call in Qingdao, China from 23 to 26 April 2017 and received a rousing welcome from the Chinese Navy and their military band.

A ROUSING WELCOME FROM THE CHINESE NAVY AND THEIR MILITARY BAND AT QINGDAO

SENIOR-CAPTAIN LI JUN FROM PLA (N) WELCOMED SENIOR LIEUTENANT TAN BIAN

Inaugural International Maritime Review, 15 May 2017

Chinese sailors aboard the guided-missile frigate Huangshan man the rails during maritime review in waters

off the Port of Changi in Singapore, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Xu Guang)

While the Obor forum was being held, 28 warships from 20 countries gathered in Singapore, including China's Huangshan frigate, and the Chinese delegation was led by Rear Admiral Zhou Xuming, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy.

As part of RSN's 50th anniversary celebrations, the RSN hosted Singapore's inaugural International Maritime Review (IMR) on 15 May 2017 to welcome friends from around the world to join them in their 50th anniversary celebrations.

6th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership themed “Leadership Development for National Innovation (国家全面创新中的领导力建设)” - held in Singapore on 16 May 2017

The leadership forum was co-chaired by DPM Teo Chee Hean, and Member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Organisation Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Mr Zhao Leji.

The political bureau is made of up 25 members and they are the important members of the CCP.

While in Singapore, Minister Zhao called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Next month...

An exclusive report by Lianhe Zaobao last Thursday said that the third round of talks on the upgrade of the Singapore-China Free Trade Agreement will be held in Beijing in the middle of next month.

The news was confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Singapore. It is understood that the "upgraded version" of the "real stuff" included removing more obstacles for Singapore enterprises investing in China and providing them with more protection.

So how are ties between China and Singapore?

We are on the right track.

As Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said at the East Asian Institute's 20th anniversary celebrations last Wednesday:

"Our common interest in building a peaceful and growing region is much greater than any occasional differences of views. Singapore will continue to be a strong and principled supporter of China's peaceful development and constructive engagement in the region."

National Development Minister and Second Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who represented Singapore at the recent Obor forum, had said that Singapore is a financial centre, and 60 per cent of the earlier Obor projects implemented in Asean came from Singapore.

Healthcare: Singapore's Success Story

Ranking second in the Bloomberg Healthcare Efficiency Index 2016, Singapore is increasingly acknowledged by analysts and commentators around the world for achieving excellent healthcare outcomes at modest costs.

The issue of healthcare reform has become ever more contentious, as governments look to rein in spending and limit their fiscal responsibilities.

In the face of anxieties over rising healthcare costs, Singapore’s healthcare model has caught their eye, especially its medical savings account scheme, Medisave.

Observers see it as a clever mechanism for reducing a government’s fiscal obligations while building households’ capacity to pay for their own healthcare needs.

The interest in Medisave coincides with the ongoing healthcare reform debate in the US.

A health savings account is a prominent component in Republican proposals to replace Obamacare. The current Republican plan offers attractive tax benefits to those who take it up and then use the accumulated funds to purchase health insurance of their choice.

They argue that this will expand individual choice while reducing the government’s involvement.

However, we have found in our research that such focus by observers on Medisave is misplaced and misses the deeper reasons for the success of Singapore’s healthcare system.

Singapore's achievement

Singapore’s achievement is not the result of any single programme, but of the targeted and orchestrated manner in which the Government deploys a broad range of policy tools.

The scope and depth of the Singapore Government’s involvement in healthcare is unlikely to appeal to most American policymakers, Democrat or Republican.

HEAVY GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS IN HEALTHCARE

Back in the mid-1980s, the Singapore government introduced reforms centred on privatisation, deregulation and marketisation that were in vogue at the time. But the ensuing increase in healthcare expenditures and political disquiet led the government to reverse course, and develop and refine a comprehensive set of tools to steer the sector.

These policy tools can be broadly classified into four categories: Organisational, fiscal, regulatory and informational tools.

The way the Singapore's healthcare system is organized

An important part of Singapore’s healthcare system that explains its success is the way it is organised.

In Singapore’s case, the Government owns the vast majority of hospitals in the country. This provides the Government leverage to direct the hospitals where needed, while granting operational autonomy to managers regarding day-to-day activities.

In turn, the emphasis on autonomy and competition while remaining in public ownership makes hospitals more customer-centred and financially prudent, and ensures that they remain under the Government’s direct control.

Fiscal tools

Out-of-pocket payments form the bulk of total healthcare expenditures in Singapore as free healthcare is non-existent. Every service user is expected to pay all or part of the costs of treatment. This prevents an over-medicalisation of healthcare and discourages overconsumption.

Medisave forms only a very small part of total expenditures.

However, the Government has elaborate measures in place, including subsidies for lower-cost wards, to keep costs down and ensure that basic services remain affordable.

Keeping premiums affordable

A nation-wide Medishield Life hospital insurance scheme helps Singaporeans cope with large hospital bills, providing assurance. The application of a co-payment arrangement with subsidies for those who really cannot afford their bills help to keep premiums affordable while providing a “safety net of last resort”.

Regulatory tools

The Government maintains tight regulatory supervision and control over all healthcare providers in Singapore. These regulations work in conjunction with the controls it exercises through ownership of and subsidies to public hospitals.

Information tools

To promote healthy competition among providers – competition based on substantive matters rather than frills – the Government requires hospitals to publish the average estimated bill for major medical procedures on the Ministry of Health’s website. On admission, hospitals are required to provide patients with an estimate of their bill, and among others, the average bill at other hospitals.

This allows patients to make informed choices, and providers to remain conscious of cost and quality issues.

Cases of errant charges are also swiftly investigated, deterring misdemeanour but giving space for privately-operated hospitals to thrive alongside public hospitals, to give Singaporeans choice.

Targeting shortcomings with a PORTFOLIO OF TOOLS

Singapore’s healthcare system is not without its challenges. Though Singapore has managed to maintain modest overall spending, it has a rapidly ageing population and most healthcare expenditures continue to be financed out-of-pocket.

What is unique about Singapore’s approach to healthcare, however, is that it has developed a portfolio of targeted tools to address specific problems that afflict the sector.

The coordinated use of these tools ensures that healthcare providers compete on costs and quality, and that total costs remain relatively low. Singapore will have to calibrate these tools to respond to challenges in the coming years.

Unlike the focus on financial and payment issues that characterises healthcare reforms in most countries, Singapore’s approach to healthcare shows a promising pathway to managing the sector effectively.

However, governments have to make their own assessment as to whether they have the political will or the administrative capacity to adopt and execute a similar strategy.

About the author:

Professor M Ramesh is UNESCO Chair for Social Policy Design in Asia at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. This commentary was first published in Global-is-Asian, a flagship publication of the school. 

'Simplistic and flawed' to think aligning with China would sway its decisions: Chee Hong Tat

Singaporeans should not be rattled by outlets which try to exaggerate negative news about Sino-Singapore ties, said Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat.

Speaking at the commencement ceremony of the Future China Advanced Leaders Programme, Mr Chee pointed out that Beijing is making investments in the region to enhance its connectivity and energy security, and that these decisions are based on China's own national interests.

"Some people read media reports and are concerned about Singapore’s relations with China, and asked if Singapore should align more closely with China. A few have suggested that by doing so, China would not be investing in our neighbouring countries to compete with Singapore," he added.

"This is a simplistic and flawed conclusion."

It is in Singapore and the region's interest that China succeeds, said Mr Chee, adding that  the Republic will work on enhancing the close bilateral cooperation with Beijing and not take the strong foundation built by the two countries' late leaders, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Deng Xiaoping, for granted.

He acknowledged, however, that it was inevitable that Singapore and China would have different views on certain issues from time to time.

Mr Chee said Singaporeans should not be rattled by outlets which try to exaggerate negative news about Sino-Singapore ties.

"We should instead focus on further strengthening our bilateral ties with China at different levels and with different provinces - between government leaders, between businesses and between our people," he added.

Singapore's value to the world depends on its ability to remain successful, stable and credible

Singapore's value and continued relevance to China, or any other major power, depended on its ability to remain successful, stable and credible, Mr Chee stressed.

"Speaking the same language, sharing the same cultural traditions and having ancestors who came from the same village several generations ago can be an advantage, but they are not going to get us very far if that is all we have to offer," he said. 

Commenting on China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, Mr Chee said the ambitious project, while not without its challenges, has the potential to help benefit many countries in the region economically.

Our partnership with China

He added: "Our partnership with China is more than bringing investments into the country, but also working together with Chinese companies to innovate new technologies, develop new products and services and invest in other markets, including Asean and Central Asia."

Source: TODAY

In Touch With The Ground, In Tune With One Another, In Time For The Future: Teo Chee Hean

Singapore is at an important stage of our development. On the international front, there are global uncertainties due to slower growth in the major economies, with greater nationalism and protectionism rearing their heads. At home, we are embarking on a new phase of economic and social development. Our society continues to mature and age. This will place greater demands on skills training and elderly support. At the same time, technology advancements present opportunities for innovation, and new exciting jobs that did not exist before.

4.      We are taking steps to position Singapore for productivity and innovation-led economic growth.

We have set-up the new Future Economy Council led by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat to address employment opportunities and the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Future Economy. We are also investing heavily to upgrade the skills of Singaporeans through SkillsFuture, and on innovation and enterprise. These steps to transform our economy are already bearing fruit, and will take time to have their full effect.

5.      The Public Service also needs to evolve and adapt, innovate and create, so as to deliver greater value to our citizens. Our agencies can adapt the best practices of other countries innovatively to our own circumstances. But increasingly, we have to anticipate change, embrace innovation and be prepared to deploy new solutions.

6.      As our external environment evolves, the Public Service also needs to accelerate our pace of innovation.

This afternoon, I would like to speak on three areas in which the Public Service can pursue more innovation. First, being in touch with the ground, tapping on citizens’ perspectives to find new ways forward. Second, being in tune with one another, partnering other agencies to deliver integrated solutions. Third, being in time for the future, ensuring that the Public Service is equipped with the capabilities to continue innovating for the future.

In Touch with the Ground – Innovation through being Citizen-Centric and Co-creating

7.      First, innovation through being in touch with the ground. In recent years, the Public Service has stepped up the level of public engagement in formulating policies and implementing programmes.

Our citizens’ needs have become more diverse. Public engagement goes beyond conducting engagement sessions to solicit feedback. The test is to understand and internalise citizens’ needs, and design policies and programmes with better outcomes.

8.      Take for instance the issue of waiting times at Specialist Outpatient Clinics. As we have more seniors, the demand for medical services grows. We can expect more seniors to seek medical attention. How can we adjust and improve our operations to provide better scheduling, and service our patients in a more timely manner. We can think of more creative solutions, especially with what modern mobile technology offers.

9.      This was what SingHealth did. It enhanced its Health Buddy app for patients to register their appointments remotely, and get queue numbers so that they can show up just in time at the clinic. By making this shift, each patient can save up to 30 minutes of waiting time at the clinic. Putting citizens at the centre of the design process will thus help us provide more convenient and timely services. I am confident that our public officers will continue to deliver more citizen-centric services for Singaporeans.

10.      The innovation in public engagement also involves tapping on the passion of individuals and communities to unlock new possibilities.

Many Singaporeans are keen to contribute their ideas, time and energy to make policies work better. For instance, when URA mooted a Car-Free Zone along Liang Seah Street, Mr Tan Kay Toh, who owns shophouses there, came forward and partnered URA to hold informal dialogues with other stakeholders. He also set up a website (www.liangseahstreet.sg) to keep those interested posted on the progress. The trial increased the footfall to the area and brought higher earnings for F&B operators. This arrangement has now been made permanent. We hope that more Singaporeans will step forward and partner our agencies to unlock new possibilities.

In Tune with One Another – Innovation by Working as One 

11.      Second, innovating by being in tune with one another. To address our complex challenges today, we need to work more closely as One Public Service and use that mind-set to develop better inter-agency system-level solutions.

12.      At the organisation level, stronger partnerships will help to address issues which cut across the responsibilities of different agencies. It is a good sign that more agencies are coming together to implement joint solutions.

For instance, 11 agencies worked on the nationwide 3D geospatial map of our infrastructure, road, and tunnel network. This 3D map now provides the foundation for more agencies to visualise and develop better and more integrated solutions. These range from ground level facilities which are important to residents such as walkways and shelters, and system-level plans such as which roof-tops are best for deploying solar panels.

13.      We are also piloting new ways to serve Singaporeans better. The Public Service Centre in Our Tampines Hub which opened in November last year is one good example. Singaporeans are served by a Customer Service Ambassador, who identifies their needs and directs them to the relevant agencies who are co-located in the Centre. If the service can be delivered at an e-kiosk, the Ambassador can assist as well. This Centre allows citizens to complete the transactions for multiple services at a single location, without having to visit the branch offices of different agencies in different locations. This concept of an integrated service centre can be implemented in other parts of Singapore. But if we do not need citizens to turn up at such centres, more services can be delivered electronically.

In Time for the future – Innovating by Equipping the Public Service Officers with Future-Ready Capabilities
 
14.      Third, making sure that the Public Service is in time for the future by training our officers with future-ready skills, so that our agencies can constantly innovate.

15.      We will accelerate the deployment of smart technologies to provide better and more timely service. The new Smart Nation and Digital Government Group will help drive digital transformation for the Public Service and focus on key enablers such as the national digital identity system and e-payments. Many agencies have also begun to use Virtual Assistant technology, such as “Ask Jamie” and chatbots on Facebook, to provide more timely responses which are accessible to the public 24/7.

16.      Being in time for the future also requires us to re-think our operating assumptions and policy approach. 

An example is how Singapore Customs shifted its focus from enforcing payment of duties and Goods and Services Tax to providing convenient services for travellers to fulfil their tax obligations. Travellers and returning residents can now declare their taxable goods and make payments through a simple app, even before reaching Singapore. Such travellers no longer need to make a detour to the Customs Tax Payment office, saving time when they arrive in Singapore. 

17.      Leadership is key to fostering an innovative culture. We need good leaders at every level. In particular, our middle managers who have their fingers on the pulse and a feel of the ground are best positioned to try new ideas and approaches.  Our middle managers can build a culture of innovation within their teams, and inspire and empower officers to do their best. To recognise exemplary managers who contribute to excellent and innovative service, we have introduced a new award category this year, the Star Manager Award. Congratulations to these role models who make a difference.

Conclusion

18.      We have achieved much as a country because we have big dreams, and work hard and creatively to make our dreams come true. Our pioneer public officers played a key role in developing and implementing bold policies and solutions to service Singaporeans and to build modern Singapore. Nothing daunted them. We must be even more in touch with the ground, in tune with one another, and in time for the future to build our future together.

19.      I encourage all our officers to play a part, be prepared to innovate, try new ideas and make things happen.

20.      Congratulations and thank you once again to all our award recipients.

Opening Address by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister in Charge of the Civil Service, at the Excellence in Public Service Awards Ceremony

The "Singapore Chinese culture” is tied to the Singapore identity.

Singaporean Chinese have a distinct cultural identity, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, due to generations of the community having forged their livelihoods here, embracing multiculturalism, and being part of the country’s globalised economy and bilingual education system.

“When defining the Singapore Chinese culture, it is i...mportant to note that our collective experiences and memories over the last 50 years of nation-building have strengthened the Singapore identity. We would therefore call ourselves Singaporean first, before identifying ourselves by our race,” he said.

“So we are Singaporean Chinese. This is also how we identify ourselves internationally.”

He was speaking at the official opening of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre in a Mandarin speech on May 19.

“Each country would develop its unique culture based on its environment and history. It is the same for Singapore. Generations have passed and Singaporean Chinese have developed a distinct cultural identity,” Mr Lee said, adding that three key factors contributed to this identity.

“First, our Chinese forefathers, through their way of life, have inculcated in us many positive traditional values,” he said, pointing to the hard work and perseverance of the pioneer generation to build a better future for the next generation “through very challenging times”, and how they believed that their labour had its rewards.

The Chinese community also cared a lot about education and charity, and would contribute what they could to support these causes; they also respected the elders and looked after the young and weak, he said of the other values they held.

Then, Singapore’s globalised economy and the country’s bilingual education policy opened the gateway for Singaporean Chinese to have contact with “the cultures of the East and West”.

“Because we are bilingual, we can interact with friends from different cultures, and understand their perspectives,” Mr Lee said. “Chinese and non-Chinese Singaporeans are able to deepen their engagement. We can also communicate easily with our neighbours in Asia and South-east Asia.”

The other factor that shaped the Singapore Chinese cultural identity is Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society, Mr Lee said.

From the beginning, although the Chinese were the majority, they did not demand that the minorities adopt the Chinese culture or way of life, or speak Mandarin. Every race kept its own traditions and culture, there are also common spaces for the different races to mingle.

“Over time, the different cultures influenced each other and the Singapore Chinese culture has developed its own unique multicultural traits,” Mr Lee said, adding that examples of these can be seen in music performances or artworks created.

At the new cultural centre’s Creativity in Pulses special exhibition, for example, one of Singapore’s leading sound-media artists, Mr Zulkifle Mahmod, a Malay, has created an installation featuring an audio component that draws reference to popular Chinese tunes.

“The Chinese culture that the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre promotes will be a Singaporean-centric one,” Mr Lee said.