Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will give a speech on May 26, 2022 at the 27th International Conference on The Future of Asia in Tokyo. KAZUHIRO NOGI AFP SINGAPORE - China's development is positive for the Asia-Pacific region and many countries expect to take advantage of the opportunities presented by its growth, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
China is the biggest trading partner of almost every country in Asia, including Japan and Singapore. It is natural, and it is something that regional countries generally welcome, because it creates opportunities for cooperation, trade and prosperity, Lee said in an interview with Japan's Nikkei Editor-in-Chief Tetsuya Iguchi on Monday.
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Lee said he is a member of the Group of Friends of the GDI, and expressed his support for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. On economic cooperation with China, Lee said, "You can't afford not to do business with China." The opportunities are there, the markets are there, and you want to trade with them, and soon many countries will be welcoming their investments as well. He said that there is a need to look for potential all around the world and to keep a balance.