Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing (left) called on the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
General (GEN) Zhang Youxia (right) at the Bayi Building in Beijing, China.

Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing meets General Zhang Youxia to strengthen bilateral defence relations and discuss regional security issues.

Beijing, 17 September 2025 – Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, met Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, General (GEN) Zhang Youxia, at the Bayi Building in Beijing this afternoon. The meeting underscored the longstanding, warm and friendly ties between Singapore and China, with both leaders reiterating their commitment to enhancing defence cooperation.

During their meeting, Mr Chan (second from left) and GEN Zhang (second from right) reaffirmed the longstanding,
warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and China.

During their discussions, Mr Chan and GEN Zhang affirmed the importance of maintaining frequent military-to-military exchanges, both on a bilateral basis and through multilateral platforms. They also highlighted the value of fostering stronger people-to-people ties between the armed forces of both nations. The two leaders exchanged views on pressing global and regional security developments, underlining the need for dialogue and cooperation in navigating an increasingly complex strategic environment.

Mr Chan had a roundtable discussion with senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers at the PLA National Defense University (NDU).

Earlier in the day, Mr Chan visited the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University (PLA NDU), where he was received by PLA NDU President Gen. Xiao Tianliang. At the university, Mr Chan delivered a presentation on Singapore-China bilateral relations and Singapore’s perspectives on managing a more fragmented and uncertain geopolitical landscape. He also participated in a dialogue with senior PLA officers and provincial officials on international and security issues.

Mr Chan is scheduled to speak tomorrow at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum’s second plenary session, where he will address the theme “Strategic Mutual Trust and Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region”.

Source: MINDEF