Lee Hsien Loong ended his 20-year term as Singapore's prime minister on May 15 with the swearing-in of Lawrence Wong. It is generally believed that the new ruling team will maintain the continuity and stability of Singapore's domestic and foreign affairs.

China-Singapore relations have reached new heights in terms of politics, economics, trade, culture and other fields.

China and Singapore have formed strong economic and trade cooperation. Singapore ranks among China's major sources of investment while China is a key trade partner for Singapore. The cooperation between the two countries in trade, finance, technical exchanges and other fields has a solid foundation and continues to deepen.

Singapore has leveraged its advanced financial infrastructure, legal services and multinational company headquarters to become a crucial hub for the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in Southeast Asia.

The two countries continue to deepen cooperation in fields including the digital economy and new energy, which will also provide new impetus for strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries.

In terms of political security, Singapore has become the backbone of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional intergovernmental organization comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, by speaking out rationally and advocating win-win cooperation on the South China Sea issue.

The new Singaporean government is well-positioned to continue this balanced and pragmatic diplomacy, reinforcing its role as a stabilizing force in regional and international affairs.

The new premier, Lawrence Wong, has also indicated his commitment to maintaining Singapore's rational and independent foreign policy.

As an important member of the previous government and leader of the new government, Wong has called on China and the United States to find effective ways to manage their differences and coexist peacefully. He has emphasized that it is crucial for the US to adapt to coexisting with China, highlighting the importance of this for global peace and stability.

On sensitive regional issues such as the South China Sea, Singapore has called on all parties to maintain open communication and resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation. Wong supports a continued commitment to ASEAN multilateralism and advocates for the use of multilateral frameworks and mechanisms to uphold stability in the South China Sea. Singapore has been proactive in advancing consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, striving to establish more transparent and more effective norms of behavior to reduce the risk of regional conflicts.

Finally, as the deputy prime minister and finance minister of the previous government, Wong will continue to lead Singapore's new administration with a commitment to strengthening close and friendly relations with China.

Last year, China-Singapore relations were elevated to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership. The implementation of mutual 30-day visa-free travel in February between China and Singapore is expected to boost bilateral tourism and business exchanges, injecting fresh momentum into trade and economic cooperation.

These collaborations between China and Singapore have not only elevated Singapore's international stature but also highlighted its pivotal role in the global economy.

(The author is an associate professor of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University. Translated by Tan Siyi and Lin Rui)