China
Singapore and the People’s Republic of China enjoy longstanding and substantive relations, anchored by frequent high-level exchanges, multifaceted cooperation, growing people-to-people exchanges and robust economic ties. Our economic partnership is anchored by the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA), the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Last updated on 12 November 2026
Singapore – China Economic Relations
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang.
Singapore and the People’s Republic of China share longstanding and substantive relations, underpinned by robust economic ties, frequent high-level exchanges, multifaceted cooperation, and growing people-to-people links. China is one of Singapore’s main trading partners and has been a top investment destination for Singapore since 2007. Since 2013, Singapore has been China’s largest foreign investor in terms of investment flows.
Our bilateral relationship was upgraded to an “All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership” (全方位高质量前瞻性伙伴关系) in 2023. The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Further Upgrade Protocol entered into force on 31 December 2024.
Singapore and China meet annually through the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), the highest-level institutionalised platform for charting and advancing key areas of cooperation. Both countries have also established three Government-to-Government projects, namely:
(a) the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park
(b) the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City; and
(c) the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity.
We have also established the state-level China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City and launched the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative.
At the provincial and municipal levels, Singapore has eight business and economic councils with Guangdong, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, Tianjin, and Zhejiang. Singapore and China also work closely at plurilateral platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum.
Bilateral Agreements involving China
China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA)
The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) is the cornerstone of economic relations between Singapore and China, enabling greater market access and ease of investments for our companies.
Plurilateral Agreements involving China
ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA)
The ASEAN – China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) is an FTA between ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam), and China. Timor Leste will accede to the ACFTA upon completing its required accession procedures. The ACFTA establishes a free trade area aimed at reducing trade barriers between China and ASEAN Member States (AMS).It entered into force in 2010.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world’s largest FTA, comprising about 30% of global GDP and about a third of the world’s population. It broadens and deepens Singapore’s economic connectivity with the region, opens up opportunities and provides businesses with more coherent access to the region.
International Platforms involving China
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum comprises 21 Asia-Pacific economies. It was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional trade blocs in other parts of the world. Its primary purpose is to promote economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore was a founding member alongside 11 other economies.