A Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council (SZETC) Roundtable was held in Singapore Aug 21, with participants agreeing to strive for stronger cooperative relations between the two sides.

The event was joined by Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State of Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Yuan Jiajun, governor of eastern China's Zhejiang province.

At the roundtable, five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Singaporean and Zhejiang organizations. Enterprise Singapore (Singapore secretariat for SZETC) signed an MoU with Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce (Zhejiang secretariat for SZETC) to form five work groups under the SZETC to identify key projects, consider policy enhancements and promote dialogue between government officials, business leaders and experts more effectively. Other MoUs touch upon trade, logistics and urban solutions.

More than 100 Singapore and Zhejiang government and business representatives attended the SZETC roundtable, which discussed collaboration in maritime economy, professional services and urban management.

The 13th SZETC meeting was held in April this year in Zhejiang, which is renowned for its private sectors.

Zhejiang is one of the seven Chinese provinces that have established economic and trade councils with Singapore.