Singapore and Tianjin strengthen cooperation in new growth sectors

Sep 27, 2024

Singapore and Tianjin entrepreneurs and researchers are deepening efforts to jointly seize opportunities in an emerging net-zero economy and silver industry, and meet common challenges like climate change and ageing. 

Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee shared the above overview on the progress of Singapore - Tianjin cooperation in his remarks at the 10th Singapore-Tianjin Economic & Trade Council (STETC) meeting held in Tianjin on 27 Sep. Minister Lee and Tianjin Mayor Zhang Gong co-chaired the STETC, and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann joined the meeting as Singapore's Vice Co-Chair. Minister Lee was accompanied by a delegation of over 50 representatives from 30 Singapore companies and organisations at the STETC meeting. Prior to the meeting, the delegation had toured the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, took part in a dialogue session with Tianjin officials, and attended the Sino-Singapore Green & Low-Carbon Forum. 

Minister Lee said, "Between Singapore and Tianjin, we have the Tianjin Eco-City, our second Government-to-Government project focused on environmental sustainability. At the last Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting, where we also commemorated the Eco-City’s 15th anniversary, we announced a new framework that broadens collaboration to span green growth, low-carbon living, ecological resilience, innovation and talent exchanges, and governance. Under this framework, our countries will facilitate the development of the Eco-City as an upgraded National Green Development Demonstration Zone. In addition, we have the STETC meetings to discuss economic cooperation. We want these platforms to deliver practical benefits for talent and companies on both sides. I am glad to see that they have facilitated new business partnerships and exchanges between our peoples. Mayor Zhang Gong and I have also signed an MOU to strengthen more of such cooperation under the STETC." 

At the STETC meeting, Minister Lee shared updates on the progress of the Demonstration Zone. “Relevant policies and governance mechanisms are being put in place to support the growth of the Demonstration Zone. For example, the Ministry of National Development, EnterpriseSG and the Eco-City Administrative Committee (ECAC) recently launched a Joint Support Programme with Singapore and Chinese schemes to assist Singapore green enterprises in setting up their businesses in the Eco-City. I'm also happy to note that a 2024 - 2035 Implementation Plan for the Demonstration Zone has been approved by China's State Council, outlining a roadmap for how both sides will materialise the Demonstration Zone in the coming years.” 

Minister Lee said, "We are keeping up efforts to strengthen the Eco-City as a test-bed for green enterprises to trial their new business ideas, including those from Singapore. For example, I took a ride on MooVita's driverless bus. Their buses will soon be deployed on the Eco-City's public bus network. We are continuing to develop the Eco-City as a model of low-carbon living. I visited Keppel Ltd's Carbon-Neutral Smart Precinct in the Northern District. Here, they are deploying their smart and sustainable solutions, drawing on their experience in developing the Seasons Smart Vibrant Precinct in the Start-Up Area.” 

Minister Lee and Mayor Zhang officiated the opening of three new developments, which would further boost efforts to anchor net-zero innovation activities in the Eco-City: 

- China-Singapore Smart Manufacturing Park, developed by the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Company (SSTEC); 

- Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) Eco-City Research & Innovation Centre, set up by SUTD, SSTEC and ECAC; and 

- China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Collaborative Innovation Centre for Green & Low-Carbon Technologies, established by SSTEC, National University of Singapore, Tiangong University and other partners. 

Singapore and Tianjin's cooperation on the Eco-City has catalysed business partnerships in the rest of Tianjin in other emerging sectors like silvercare. On this trip, Minister Lee opened the hotel and medical clusters of the Perennial Tianjin South High Speed Railway International Healthcare and Business City, and the Watermark Tiong Seng Lifestyle Centre. These are projects that Singapore and Chinese companies have embarked on to provide integrated care and wellness offerings for the elderly. Both sides are also joining hands to develop solutions for decarbonising and digitalising the maritime industry. This is a common area of interest to Singapore and Tianjin, which launched a new Green and Digital Shipping Corridor last year. For example, CrimsonLogic and Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone are looking into using CrimsonLogic's digital solutions to facilitate trade processes. 

During the trip, Minister Lee also called on Tianjin Party Secretary Chen Min'er and China Minister of Housing & Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong. "I had fruitful discussions with Party Secretary Chen and Minister Ni. We reaffirmed the good progress made in our cooperation, especially on joint innovation to address challenges commonly faced by cities. This is also our effort to translate our countries' upgraded 'All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership' into tangible improvements to our people's lives." 

The list of deliverables reported at STETC is in the Annex. 

Annex - List of STETC Deliverables 

Opening of new developments in Tianjin Eco-City

MOUs