Singapore — Coordinating Minister Chan Chun Sing has emphasized that Singapore’s relevance to China depends on its ability to understand the nation’s evolving priorities. Speaking ahead of the Singapore‑China Leadership Forum, he underscored the importance of adaptive leadership in navigating geopolitical shifts, economic transformation, and social challenges.
Chan noted that Singapore’s “special channel” with the Communist Party of China provides rare access to Beijing’s thinking. This relationship allows Singapore not only to observe what China does, but to understand why it does so. Such insight, he argued, is essential for building trust and finding common ground in a rapidly changing world.
The upcoming forum, themed Transformative Leadership in Times of Great Change, coincides with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Discussions will focus on three critical areas: geopolitical shifts, China’s pursuit of high‑quality growth, and domestic social challenges such as an ageing population and diverse aspirations among youth.
Chan stressed that Singapore’s strength lies not in scale but in speed, innovation, and relevance. By aligning with China’s pivot toward innovation and quality growth, Singapore can share perspectives and co‑create new models of cooperation. This approach reflects a leadership style that values adaptability over rigidity.
Beyond economics, Chan highlighted the importance of addressing social issues together. For ageing populations, collaboration could focus on housing and retirement adequacy. For younger generations, the challenge is to harness their energy positively to drive national development. These exchanges, he said, are how small nations remain relevant to larger partners.
Ultimately, Chan’s message is one of long‑term vision. Singapore’s relevance is not built on short‑term gains but on relationships cultivated over decades. By investing time and effort to deeply understand others, Singapore demonstrates that adaptive leadership—rooted in empathy and foresight—can sustain relevance even amidst global uncertainty.
