Singapore should not be diverted from right course

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's visit to China has been another precious step forward in the two countries' joint endeavors to repair their ties that have been bruised by a number of unpleasant episodes concerning the South China Sea.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Singaporean counterpart put forward details for the implementation of the inter-governmental memorandum of understanding which the two countries agreed at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May, expressing the two sides' joint intention to build platforms for interconnectivity, financial cooperation and third-party collaboration.

Although an MOU is more akin to a gentlemen's agreement due to the absence of any legal commitment, that in no way diminishes the political significance of the China-Singapore MOU, which underscores the resilience of their ties.