Chongqing - Participants and experts recently gathered at a Sino-Singapore Dialogue to explore opportunities for China-Singapore collaboration and the future of the China-ASEAN Economic Community.

Experts emphasized the fusion of China's industrial strengths with Singapore's planning expertise, fueled by shared commitments to sustainability and innovation.

Tan Boon Khai, former CEO of Singapore's JTC Corporation and former deputy chairman of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Development Co., highlighted how the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) reflects this expanded vision of cooperation.

The 2025 NTU-Stratagem: Sino-Singapore Dialogue was held in Chongqing on September 19. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

Established in 1968, JTC Corporation has played a central role in Singapore's industrialization by developing and renewing industrial estates. These estates evolved into hubs that combine manufacturing with innovation, focusing on sustainability, digitalization, and green development.

Over the decades, JTC Corporation has consistently contributed more than 20 percent of Singapore's GDP, supported by industrial estates that house over 12,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Tan noted that while SMEs face challenges such as limited financial resources and market access barriers, embedding them in larger clusters and connecting them to global networks is key to sustaining growth.

Singapore's planning experience was also exported to China through the Suzhou Industrial Park in the 1990s. Today, the park is one of China's most successful development zones, contributing significantly to Suzhou's economy and pioneering best practices in governance, smart city planning, and talent development.

Tan emphasized that future cooperation must extend beyond physical parks to broader areas, including logistics, finance, aviation, and digital innovation. He described the CCI as a platform that enhances integration and creates opportunities for businesses, particularly SMEs, to expand across ASEAN and China. "CCI is not just about connectivity—it is about cooperation and integration," Tan said. 

Prof Jian Jie, appointed expert of the Strategic Research Center for the China-Singapore (Chongqing) and professor at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said that Chongqing's strategic location as a major inland hub provides unparalleled connectivity between China and Southeast Asia, particularly facilitating trade and cooperation within the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). 

She believes Chongqing is becoming an increasingly important regional leader in fostering economic integration, enhancing infrastructure, and bridging the gap between China and ASEAN.

Prof Chackrit Duangphastra, associate professor of Chulalongkorn University and former director of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, analyzed the ILSTC's impact on ASEAN countries, especially Thailand. 

He explained that the ILSTC benefits ASEAN nations, particularly Thailand, by improving trade efficiency and providing direct access to the global market. Its rail and maritime network reduces transport time and costs, helping Thai businesses reach China more easily and strengthening regional supply chains.

Moreover, the ILSTC opens new opportunities for Thai industries in agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics sectors, creating a win-win scenario for both China and ASEAN countries as they deepen their economic ties.

The Sino-Singapore Dialogue, hosted by the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Stratagem Group.