China, Singaporean defense ministers sign MoU for advanced cooperation

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China, Singaporean defense ministers sign MoU for advanced cooperation

This undated photo shows senior Colonel Tan Kefei, the spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence, at a press briefing in Beijing, China. PHOTO CHINA, China and Singaporean defense ministers held talks in Singapore on Thursday that culminated in two sides signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a secure defense phone link.

State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu held talks with his Singaporean counterpart, Ng Eng Hen, on Thursday, according to senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesman for China's Defense Ministry.

The two Defence Ministers exchanged views on relations between the two nations and the two militaries, regional security situations and issues of shared interests, he said at a news briefing in Singapore, noting that the meeting was a candid, in-depth and productive strategic communication.

Both sides agree that the two militaries should conscientiously implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both sides, continue to maintain sound momentum on advancing cooperation and strengthen high-level strategic communication, practical cooperation, multilateral exchanges and cooperation to improve bilateral defense ties, the spokesman said.

The two ministers of defense shared a memorandum on the creation of the defense phone link.

The 20th Shangri-La dialogue, which will open on Friday, has been invited by Li. He arrived in Singapore on Wednesday and will stay until Sunday, the defense ministry said.