Chinese Vice President attends Lee Kuan Yew's funeral

This year will witness the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. China is willing to work with Singapore’s government to maintain the good trend in developing the bilateral relationship, and to bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples, the message added.

On Saturday, Li also held a meeting with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, and conveyed deep condolences on Lee's passing on behalf of Xi, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

"Lee's departure is not only a loss for the Singaporean people, but also a loss for Asia and the global community," Li said.

The traditional friendly cooperation between the two countries should be treasured and continued by further enhancing high-level exchanges and stepping up pragmatic cooperation, therefore bringing China-Singapore ties to a new level, he added.

Teo expressed thanks to Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders for sending wreaths to the Singaporean Embassy in Beijing to pay respect to the former prime minister.

Teo also said that the Chinese vice president's attendance at Lee's state funeral reflected the fact that China pays special attention to China-Singapore ties.

Lee made great effortto strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and devoted himself to promoting China-Singapore cooperation in many areas, including the establishment of an industrial park in China's eastern city of Suzhou, Teo added.

The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Lee Kuan Yew built up deep and lasting bonds of trust with the Chinese community and Chinese business community alike, always maintaining good mutual interaction.

"He was an ardent believer in promoting bilingual education, and stressed that core cultural and traditional values are to be conveyed through the mother tongue. This has laid the foundations behind establishing a cohesive Chinese society and Chinese business community," said a letter from the chamber's official website.

Gu Qingyang, an associate professor of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said Lee Kuan Yew’s major contribution was not only about building a prosperous country, but also about establishing a governing system and one advanced development strategy that allowed Singapore to catch up with developed nations.

Lee Kuan Yew is also respected by the younger generation of Chinese. Tang Wei, from China's Hunan province, has been working and living in Singapore for three years. He said the good social order, the harmonious relationship and integration among different local communities, and a beautiful landscape of Singapore attracted him to work in the country.