Fujian Provincial Party Secretary Zhou Zuyi leads delegation to visit Singapore

Fujian Provincial Party Secretary Zhou Zuyi led a large business delegation to Singapore on May 15th, where they were warmly welcomed by leaders from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network, the Putian Association, and leaders of 20 other Fujian-related associations and local entrepreneurs.

Singapore is the final stop of the Fujian delegation's tour of three Southeast Asian countries, following Indonesia and Malaysia.

During a welcome dinner hosted by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Secretary Zhou Zuyi addressed over 300 leaders of Fujian-related associations and entrepreneurs. He stated that the purpose of the delegation's visit to Singapore is not only to promote Fujian Province's economic, trade, cultural, and tourism resources, and deepen economic and trade cooperation between Fujian and Singapore, but also to visit local Fujian compatriots and strengthen ties.

He emphasized the important role that associations play in uniting overseas Fujian compatriots and their extensive work in inheriting Chinese culture and providing services.

President Cai Qisheng of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan expressed the sentiments of many Singaporeans in his welcome speech. He mentioned that since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, more and more Singaporeans have been eager to conduct business activities and visit Fujian. Everyone hopes that the Chinese authorities will soon restore the policy of allowing Singaporeans to enter China without a visa for up to 15 days, making travel to China more convenient.

Secretary Zhou Zuyi and the Fujian delegation stayed at the Fullerton Hotel under the management of Far East Organisation founded by the late Mr Huang Tingfang. The son of Huang Tingfang, the pioneer of the overseas Chinese community in Singapore, Huang Zhiyang, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sun Hung Kai Group and Honorary Chairman of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network, flew back from Hong Kong to welcome Secretary Zhou Zuyi and his delegation at the hotel. They took a photo together in front of a statue of the late Huang Tingfang.

Fang Zhizhong, President of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network and Chairman of the Putian Association, led about forty entrepreneurs from the Hinghwa community to the dinner, where they had sincere exchanges with Secretary Zhou Zuyi and other members of the delegation.

During the Fujian delegation's visit to Singapore, several trade promotion meetings were held, and Dr. Wu Wei, Executive President of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network and Director of the City Mayor Program at Nanyang Technological University, known as a "leader in the Hokkien community in Singapore," was invited to attend and deliver a speech, exchanging experiences with leading entrepreneurs from Fujian.