Ensuring a smooth change in political leadership a
challenge: SM Goh
By Channel NewsAsia's Glenda Chong |
Posted: 09 April 2010 2315 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ensuring a smooth change in political
leadership is a challenge both Singapore and China faces said
Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
This is one of many topics which Mr Goh discussed with Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Both leaders were meeting on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for
Asia Annual Conference.
Fresh from his induction as a board member of the prestigious Boao
Forum, Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong met Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping.
Both acknowledged the strong ties between their countries which
celebrate 20 years of diplomatic bilateral ties this year.
Singapore and China also face similar challenges, a key one being
leadership renewal.
Mr Goh said: "I had discussed with him leadership identification
and development, something which is very close to the heart of
Singapore leaders which he is in-charge of.
“So he is very keen on further co-operation and how we can identify
leaders and nurture them. And this is a strength of both China and
Singapore. We go out of our way to identify potential leaders and
get them in young, train them, groom them and development them into
national leaders."
Mr Goh noted that China and Singapore have different ways of
identifying future leaders and this was where they could learn from
each other.
Mr Goh said: "Theirs in a sense is more systematic. They have the
cadre system for many years and people join the communist party and
they are spotted and groomed. Their system in a sense is closed.
You have to be a member first. But in their case, they have
millions of members so they have a choice.
“In our case, we can't identify leaders from the party. No matter
how many we have is still in terms of thousands. In our case it's
national. We go out of way to look for people in Singapore,
whatever and wherever they are.”
The Boao Forum is being held in Hainan Province and the southern
island has recently attracted much attention especially after the
Chinese Central Government announced it will be transformed into an
international tourism destination by 2020.
Mr Goh said understanding what the strategy is for the development
of Hainan island is beneficial to Singapore."
SM Goh added: "I was interested in understanding what the strategy
and the masterplan is. They do have a master-plan for the whole
Hainan island not just tourism masterplan but the masterplan
involving industries, services, agricultural and so on.
“And we are interested because Hainan could be a potential source
of tropical produce for us. So if we can have another source of
food for us, it is better for our security."
The Boao Forum that Mr Goh is attending brings together leaders,
businessmen and experts in Asia, to share visions on the most
pressing issues in the world today. - CNA/vm
