Delivered Speech by Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling at the Singapore Management University China Office Launch Ceremony

Mr Piyush Gupta, Chairman of the Singapore Management University (SMU),

Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU,

Members of the SMU Board of Trustees,

Members of the SMU International Advisory Council China,

Distinguished guests,

1. Good evening. I am delighted to join you today for the launch of the Singapore Management University China Office here in Shenzhen!

2. On behalf of the Singapore Government, my heartiest congratulations to SMU, Chairman Piyush, Professor Lily Kong, and everyone who has worked hard to make this milestone possible.

3. The opening of this office is really significant. It establishes the university’s presence in one of China’s leading cities for innovation, openness, and entrepreneurship. More importantly, it creates another platform for fresh ideas, talent and opportunities to flow between Singapore and China.

Singapore – Shenzhen: A Shared Story of Transformation

4. Singapore and Shenzhen share remarkably similar stories. Both began with humble origins. Shenzhen was once a small fishing village on China's southern coast, while Singapore started as a small trading port with limited resources and a small domestic market. Today, both are internationally connected hubs for business, innovation and talent.

5. The links between Shenzhen and Singapore run deep. In the early years of China's reform and opening up, Singapore had the privilege of hosting Deng Xiaoping, who studied our development experience and encouraged Shenzhen to draw lessons from Singapore while charting its own path of development.

6. Over the decades, Shenzhen has grown into one of China's most innovative and dynamic cities. Today, it is at the forefront of technology, advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurship, home to some of China's most successful companies and innovators, including BYD, Oppo, and Mindray, just to name a few.

Deepening Singapore – Shenzhen Collaboration

7. Our journeys were different, but our success was built on similar foundations: openness to the world, investment in our people, and a willingness to embrace change. These shared values continue to underpin our growth and create new opportunities for partnership.

8. In 2019, Singapore and Shenzhen launched the Singapore - China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative, or SCI. In a short span of seven years, the SCI has become an important platform for advancing cooperation in digital connectivity, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as talent exchange and capability development. With the establishment of SMU’s office, the last two will certainly see more progress to come. Since its launch, the SCI has facilitated 43 tangible projects, creating opportunities for businesses, institutions and individuals from Singapore and Shenzhen to work together and develop new partnerships.

9. Our innovation cooperation has also continued to deepen. For example, the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Joint Innovation Call has evaluated close to 64 impactful joint applications from Singaporean and Chinese companies, which is something that SMU’s China Office can also leverage in its work here. Through this Joint Innovation Call, we seek to co-develop and commercialise solutions in areas such as sustainability, biomedical, sciences, robotics and advanced manufacturing. I am happy to share that Enterprise Singapore has supported a significant number of projects to date.

Connecting the Greater Bay Area and ASEAN

10. As the innovation engine of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Shenzhen provides access to one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions. This is where cutting-edge innovation, complete supply chain networks, a rich pool of talent and a vast consumer market converge. Shenzhen is a gateway to opportunities in the GBA, just as Singapore serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

11. As gateway cities, Singapore and Shenzhen have complementary strengths that can create exciting opportunities for our people and businesses. Singapore can be a trusted partner for Chinese companies expanding globally into ASEAN and the wider region. At the same time, Singapore companies can look to Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area for innovation, talent and market opportunities. Together, our two cities can boost the flow of businesses, ideas and people between China and Southeast Asia.

12. This is why SMU’s decision to establish a presence in Shenzhen is both timely and strategic. Situated at the heart of the Greater Bay Area, the Shenzhen Office can strengthen links between China and ASEAN by connecting students, alumni, researchers, businesses and institutions across both regions. This role will become even more important as Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship next year. We will work closely with our ASEAN partners to strengthen regional connectivity and deepen engagement with external partners such as China. In this context, institutions like SMU can play a very valuable role in building and expanding networks, fostering exchanges, and turning opportunities into win-win partnerships.

Universities as Bridges for Business and Talent

13. Universities have a very important role in making these connections meaningful. Their contribution goes well beyond educating students. They bring together talent, knowledge, research and industry. Universities like SMU are vital platforms to test ideas, develop solutions and forge commercial partnerships.

14. Universities can also help forge networks that endure beyond individual projects. We all know that business conditions may change, but what will not change is the trust formed through shared learning, joint research and professional networks. Despite changes in business conditions or the global economic environment, these bonds of trust can last a lifetime. These relationships help future partners in Singapore and China better understand one another’s strengths, perspectives and ways of working.

15. Just as importantly, universities prepare talent for the future. We hope that more Singaporeans will have opportunities to learn, work and build networks in Shenzhen and China through this office. We look forward to SMU equipping students with the skills, perspectives and relationships to deepen cooperation between Singapore and China for many years and decades to come.

Conclusion

16. Allow me to conclude with a few words in Mandarin.

各位尊敬的嘉宾，大家晚上好！

17. 很高兴今晚能和大家齐聚深圳，共同见证新加坡管理大学中国办公室的正式启用！

18. SMU中国办公室的设立，让新加坡管理大学能够在深圳——这座创新、开放和在创业领域遥遥领先的中国城市——有一个立足点。我觉得这是个很重要的里程碑。更重要的是，它打造了一个全新的平台，促进了新加坡和中国在思想、人才和机遇方面的合作与交流。

19. 深圳经济特区在1980年8月正式成立。新加坡建国总理李光耀先生，在1985年第一次到访深圳，他当时说：“中国不能没有特区，因为特区是中国改革开放的试验场。”李光耀先生一生总共到访深圳 7次，奠定了新加坡深度参与中国改革开放以及经济特区建设的基础。

20. 在40多年后的今天，深圳已经发展成为一座充满创新活力和创业精神的城市，延续着当年的“试验”精神，成为了中国高科技创新领域的领军城市之一。

21. 新加坡管理大学有着严谨的学术根基和传统，我们相信，SMU在深圳的中国办公室，将能够为新中两国青年提供更多一起学习、一起试验、一起交流与合作的机会。我们也希望汇聚区域和全球人才、智慧和资源，为新中合作注入崭新的活力，开拓更广阔的空间。

22. 最后，再次祝贺新加坡管理大学中国办公室正式成立！祝愿新加坡和深圳的合作，能够欣欣（新新）向荣、生生（深深）不息，为深化新中合作与联系作出重大的贡献。谢谢大家。