Speech by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health, at The FutureChina Global Forum, 12 July 2021, 11.00am

各位嘉宾

女士们、先生们:

早上好！

1.     很高兴能够再次参加慧眼中国环球论坛。冠状病毒蔓延到全世界，是大家瞩目的课题。首先，让我大略谈谈新加坡的情况。
2.     过去两周，本地社区冠病病例已维持在单位数，并且只有少数是无关联病例。然而，这场防卫战并不会在短期内结束。越来越多的专家逐渐达成共识，认为冠病很可能成为一种“地方性流行病毒”。但我们上下一心，利用科技技术、攻克冠病所带来的挑战。

疫情后新常态

3.     今后的战略，是继续有序地、安全地重新恢复我们的经济和社会活动，稳步向“疫情后新常态”迈进。成功与否，有几个关键。

4.     重中之重是疫苗。更多国人能接种疫苗，社会的抵抗力就越高。疫苗能够大量减低病毒的散播，减低病例。此外，疫苗也能把冠病转化为风险低的疾病，就像流感一样。两个目标一但达到，我们就可以比较放心地如常过生活。

5.     目前，新加坡每日接种疫苗可达八万剂次。我们希望在 8月9日，也就是新加坡国庆日的时候，为新加坡约三分之二的人口接种两剂疫苗。国庆过后，希望接种率 会继续提高。

6.     第二，我们也将继续地通过冠病检测，让我们快速发现并隔离受感染者，除了聚合酶连锁反应（PCR）检测，我们也大量推出了只需20分钟就能成现结果的抗原快速检测（ART）。我国也正在部署呼吸测试仪（Breathalyzers）。这类测试只需要2分钟到3分钟的操作就能够成功采样。我们也在扩充污水测试，让我们能够提早发现病毒在社区里的传播。

7.     第三，我们也使用有效的治疗方法医治冠病患者。新加坡已经有了一系列有效的治疗方法，使我国的冠病死亡率减到最低。

8.     第四，养成新的社交规范与习惯。除了必须保持良好的个人卫生以外，每个人都必须养成“生病时就应该呆在家里”的社会意识。

9.     四管齐下，让我们能够降服冠病，安全地过日常生活，复苏经济，进入新常态。社会和经济活动、卫生和健康措施，以及旅游的复苏，都需要逐步和安全地做出适当的调整，要按部就班，不能急于求成、一步登天，导致得来不易的成果前功尽弃。

10.     这样，商业活动能够安全地进行，日常运营也不大可能受阻断，让企业得到更大的稳定性。当然，我们希望企业能尽自己的一份力，使自身业务具备更大的调度弹性与灵活度。例如确保业务持续性计划（Business Continuity Plan）实施到位，以及供应链的多样化，以分散风险。

11.     我们必须齐心协力，利用一切资源与助力，让新加坡更快地适应“疫情后新常态”。

疫情后的新机遇

12.     冠病虽然改变了我们的生活，但科技和创新不会因冠病而放慢脚步。相反的，这场危机也让我们审视固有的思维和习惯，探索更有效率、可持续的生活与工作方式。

13.     例如：大家居家办公，也减少在国外出差。在工作方面，虽然人与人的交流仍然无法取代，但是我们也减少了出行成本和时间，尝试新的、更有效的工作方式，降低了碳的排放。许多企业也在逆境中继续以科技为助力，开拓市场、吸引资金和人才。

14.     对许多计划扩大业务规模的跨国企业来说，中国仍然是主要的区域市场之一。新加坡企业也不例外。冠病疫情也带来了新一轮的机遇，尤其在数字经济方面，加强了如远程咨询、线上零售、在线教育等网络平台的渗透率。同时，也带动了中国对医疗保健以及生物医药研发的关注和投入。

15.     最近，中国共产党庆祝建党百年华诞，宣布实现了第一个“全面建成小康社会” 的百年目标。第二个百年目标，即是在2049年之前，把中国建成富强、先进、和谐的 社会主义现代化强国。其中一个重要发展重点便是“双循环战略”。

16.     对内——中国将打造一个强大的国内消费市场、加强科研创新、并加快如粤港澳大湾区和长江三角经济带等区域的资源整合与协同建设。对外——中国也将继续与国际贸易和投资对接。

17.     在中国发展双循环战略的大格局下，东南亚和中国要深化合作，在贸易和投资方面促进进一步融合。亚细安和中国已是彼此最大的贸易伙伴；也都加入了区域全面经济伙伴关系协定。同时也通过“中新互联互通项目国际陆海贸易新通道”加强与东南亚的经贸联系，大大地缩短新加坡到中国西部货物所需的运输时间。东南亚和中国在数字和金融的相互联通也日益重要。

深化与粤港澳大湾区的合作
18.     自中国改革开放以来，粤港澳大湾区一直是中国与世界接轨的重要窗口。2020年，大湾区对中国GDP的贡献超过了百分之十。如今，粤港澳大湾区已经成为引领经济发展，迈向第二个一百年愿景的前锋。

19.     在大湾区强劲发展势头的带动下，新粤之间的合作有着很大的发展空间。新加坡和广东两地之间本身就有着紧密的经贸关系。至今，广东已连续32年成为新加坡在中国的第一大省级贸易伙伴。

20.     早于2009年，两地便成立了新粤合作理事会（SGCC），并通过中新广州知识城和新加坡-中国（深圳）智慧城市合作倡议等平台推进双边合作。比亚迪、顺丰速递和腾讯等 广东企业也已纷纷在新加坡设立业务，以新加坡为基地，开拓东南亚市场。

21.     新粤合作基础厚实、空间辽阔。接下来，为促进和深化新加坡与大湾区在后疫情时代的合作，我在这里提出八点建议：

22.     第一，拓展制造业领域的合作。未来的制造产业将高度数字化；我们将看到全面智能化的“黑灯”工厂 – 机器在工厂地面上自主移动，独立地针对库存、生产和维修方面做出决策与安排。我们可以对供应链的每一份投入、每个环节的信息了如指掌。还可以通过3D打印技术实现定制生产。

23.     许多新加坡公司已抓住了这些新的技术趋势，在大湾区发展。例如，一家专注于牙科3D打印的企业Star3D，目前正在中新广州知识城设立一个3D打印与数字设计中心，在中国开发数字牙科产品。

24.     第二，深化金融领域的合作。可持续基础设施需要大量的资金投入。仅仅是在亚洲，直到2030年，每年大约需要 1.7万亿美元的投入。面对这如此巨大的需求，新加坡和大湾区的金融业者可以一同合作，带头将资源导入绿色与可持续发展的项目之中。

25.     除了基础建设，应对因气候变化而带来的自然灾害风险也是绿色发展的一项重要议题。新加坡金融机构在制定风险融资管理解决方案方面有很好的经验，能帮助两地的企业更好地减低风险。

26.     第三，加强知识产权合作。知识产权保护在新加坡和大湾区都得到了高度的重视。因为要人民过更好的生活，经济增长的素质要提高，企业在创造和应用科技和知识的能力，也需相应提升。

27.     大湾区是中国知识产权和国际专利申请数量最多的地区之一。而新加坡则在2020年，连续第七年位居全球创新指数亚太地区榜首。今年4月，我国更推出了2030年新加坡知识产权战略，更强力地支持企业利用知识产权实现产业转型。大湾区企业可以利用我国的专利加速计划来助力其在东南亚、以至全球的拓展计划。

28.     第四，探索生物医药领域合作。接下来的十几二十年，中新两国对晚年养老方面的需求将加大。这也意味着新加坡和大湾区在生物医药研究和产业化方面仍有许多合作的潜能。广东近期推出港药通计划，为大湾区的生物医药产业注入新活力。

29.     新加坡多年在生物医药研发的投资，已逐渐开花结果。生物医药产业发展蓬勃，也开始开拓中国市场。同时，新加坡企业也能作为大湾区生物医药企业的伙伴，帮助它们拓展东南亚业务。

30.     第五，共同建设绿色经济。新加坡的目标是到2050年将温室气体排放从2030年的顶峰水平减半；而中国也承诺在2060年达到碳中和的目标。后疫情时代，如何让我们的工作和生活绿化、更可持续都是新加坡和大湾区可以探讨合作的方向。例如，我们双方在运输技术、智慧城市、水资源、废物管理以及能源效率等方面仍有许多能相互借鉴的空间。

31.     第六，推动人才交流。人才是经济发展重要的驱动力，我们应继续深化新加坡与大湾区之间的人才交流，特别是学生和青年之间的交流和对话。

32.     我期待着中新青年实习交流计划（YES）的实施。该计划将为新加坡青年提供在大湾区实习的机会。同样地，也让中国青年有机会赴新实习交流。

33.     加坡国立大学也正在筹备于中新广州知识城成立一所广州创新学院，专注于科研成果转化和教育项目，助力培养广州和大湾区的研发人才。

34.     第七，带动创新生态系统互动。为了鼓励和支持创新企业，新加坡成立了全球创新联盟网络。去年12月，联盟网络已拓展至深圳，以帮助企业更好地进入大湾区。深圳也在新加坡设立企业服务窗口，助力深圳企业进军东南亚市场。

35.     大湾区和新加坡都拥有充满活力的创新生态系统。这里有来自全球的初创公司、投资者和跨国企业组成的深度互联网络，共同开发解决方案、产品测试，为企业在区域扩大业务规模创造了良好的基础。

36.     最后，有序地恢复人员往来。“疫情后新常态”，少不了旅游和出差。中国和新加坡在防疫工作方面卓有成效，在适当的时候，国家地区之间可以通过健康和疫苗接种证书相互认证，免去隔离的要求，安全地恢复两国的人员往来。

结语
37.     我相信这八个领域，能够全面地、深入地、有战略性地加强大湾区和新加坡之间的合作，充分实现双方的发展潜能。疫情虽然打乱了我们的发展计划，但我们也能在危机中寻找到新机遇，继续深化新加坡与区域在经济、数字、金融等领域的互联互通。

38.     去年的慧眼中国论坛采用全线上模式，今年是线上线下的模式。希望到明年的这个时候，我们能在“新常态”中面对面交流。谢谢！

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF SPEECH BY MR ONG YE KUNG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AT THE FUTURECHINA GLOBAL FORUM, 12 JULY 2021, 11.00AM

Distinguished speakers and guests,

Ladies and Gentleman,

1.     I am glad to participate once again in the FutureChina Global Forum. COVID-19 has spread worldwide and is an issue that all of us watch closely. Let me give a brief update on the current situation in Singapore.

2.     In the past two weeks, new community cases have maintained at the single-digit level, and only a minority of them are unlinked cases. However, the battle against COVID-19 is far from over. There is increasing consensus among experts that COVID-19 will likely to be endemic. Even so, we stand united and have tapped on our technological capabilities to overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

POST-PANDEMIC NEW NORMAL

3.     The strategy moving forward is to continue to restart our economic and social activities in a phased and safe manner, and take steady steps towards the post-pandemic new normal. To this end, we need to consider a few key factors.

4.     The most important and critical factor is vaccination. As more of us are vaccinated, there will be greater immunity within our community. Vaccination can greatly reduce transmission, leading to far fewer COVID-19 cases. Vaccination can also reduce COVID-19 into a milder virus, just like the seasonal influenza. Once we achieve these outcomes, we can then live normally with better peace of mind.

5.     Singapore can now administer up to 80,000 vaccine doses every day. By 9 August, which is Singapore’s National Day, we aim to have fully vaccinated two thirds of our population. We hope that the vaccination rate will continue to rise after National Day.

6.     Second, we continue to rely on COVID-19 testing to detect and isolate infected individuals quickly. Besides the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, we have also rolled out the antigen rapid test (ART) on a large scale, which can produce results in about 20 minutes. Breathalysers, which only take about 2 to 3 minutes to administer, are also in the pipeline. We are also expanding the testing of wastewater to help us detect community transmissions early.

7.     Thirdly, we will continue to use effective treatment for patients. Singapore already has in place a range of effective treatment, which helps to keep our COVID-19 mortality rate low.

8.     Lastly, our social behaviours and habits will have to adapt. Everyone would have to practise good personal hygiene and inculcate the social consciousness to stay home when sick.

9.      With all four measures in place, we will be able to “tame” the virus; go about with our daily activities safely; and get our economy to recover. We enter the post-pandemic new normal. Our social and economic activities, public health measures, and the recovery of travel and tourism, will all be adjusted in a phased and safe manner. We need to do so step-by-step, and not rush things through, which may potentially bring our past efforts down the drain.

10.     Under this new normal, daily operations of businesses are less likely to be disrupted, allowing businesses to benefit from greater certainty that work events and activities can take place safely. Of course, we hope that businesses also do their part to implement measures that will help them to be more resilient and flexible, such as ensuring that business continuity plans are in place and supply chains are well-diversified and maintained.

11.     We must harness all our energy, resources and creativity to transit and adapt as quickly as we can to the desired end-state.

OPPORTUNITIES ARISING FROM COVID-19

12.     While the pandemic has changed our way of living, advancements in technology and innovation have not slowed down during this time. This crisis has instead provided greater impetus for us to relook at our practices and mindset; and push us to explore ways of living and working which are more effective and sustainable.

13.     For example, COVID-19 has allowed most of us to work from home, and cut down overseas work trips. Although face-to-face interaction remains irreplaceable, we have been able to cut down on commuting costs and time, try out new and more effective ways of working, and reduce our carbon footprints. Amid the challenging environment, many businesses have also tapped on technology to enter new markets, and to attract investments and talent.

14.     China remains as one of the key regional markets for global companies, including Singapore companies, looking to scale their operations. The pandemic has brought about new opportunities, especially on the digital economy front, where we observed enhanced adherence for all things online, from tele-consultations to retail to online education. In China, the pandemic has also brought about greater attention and investments in healthcare, and biomedical research and development.

15.     Recently, the Chinese Communist Party celebrated the 100^th anniversary of its founding and announced that China has realised its first centenary goal, which is “to build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects”. The second centenary goal is to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, culturally advanced and harmonious, by 2049. One of the key strategies in achieving this goal is the Dual Circulation Strategy.

16.     In facilitating “internal circulation”, China will double down on efforts to build a strong domestic consumer market, strengthen its innovation eco-system and accelerate development in regions such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. At the same time, under “external circulation”, China will remain open to international trade and investment.

17.     Under this Dual Circulation Strategy, Southeast Asia and China will need to deepen our collaboration, fostering greater integration in trade and investment. China and Southeast Asia are each other’s largest trading partner and both are parties to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. China has also deepened its trading links with the region through initiatives such as the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative – New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (CCI-ILSTC), which reduces travel time for goods to travel from Singapore to Western China and vice-versa. Southeast Asia and China’s collaboration in the digital and financial space have also becoming increasingly more important.

STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION WITH THE GREATER BAY AREA

18.     Since China’s reform and opening up, the GBA has been a window facilitating China’s integration with the world. Today, the GBA is an economic and manufacturing powerhouse, contributing to more than a tenth of China’s GDP in 2020, and serves as a vanguard in China’s journey toward achieving its second centenary goal.

19.     Against the backdrop of GBA’s development, there is much room for further collaboration between Singapore and China. For a start, Singapore and Guangdong already share strong economic ties. Guangdong was Singapore’s top provincial trading partner in China for the 32^nd consecutive year in 2020.

20.     We established the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) in 2009 and fostered closer collaboration through the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) and the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative (SCI) projects. Guangdong companies such as BYD, SF Express and Tencent have also established presence here, and are using Singapore as a base to further their footprints in Southeast Asia.

21.     With the solid foundation, there is greater potential for closer Singapore-Guangdong collaboration in the future. To this end, I would like to propose 8 areas to propel our collaboration in the post-pandemic future:

22.     Firstly, to expand collaboration in the manufacturing sector. The future of manufacturing will be highly digitalised. We will see smart and “dark” factories, with machines moving around autonomously on the factory floor, and independently make decisions on inventory, production and maintenance, with little need for human intervention. Our supply chains will give us complete visibility of every single input, and we will also enjoy customizable production, enabled by 3D printing.

23.     Many Singapore companies have responded to these new tech trends, to grow their businesses in the GBA. For example, Star3D, a dental 3D printing company, is setting up a 3D printing digital design centre in the CSGKC to develop digital dentistry products in China.

24.     Second, to deepen collaborations in the finance sector. Sustainable infrastructure development requires massive funding. In Asia alone, from now till 2030, about USD 1.7 trillion in funding is needed each year. With this immense demand, financial players in Singapore and the GBA ecosystems can collaborate and champion for capital to be channelled to green and sustainable development projects.

25.     Besides infrastructure, being able to address disaster risk arising from climate change is also one of the important issues while pursuing sustainable development. Singapore’s financial institutions are experienced in risk management solutions, and could help companies in Singapore and the GBA to better manage and mitigate their risks.

26.     Third, to strengthen intellectual property (IP) cooperation. Both Singapore and the GBA highly value the protection of IP. For our people to lead better lives, we have to enhance the quality of our economic growth. With that, the capability to create and utilise technology and knowledge would have to be elevated as well.

27.     The GBA has one of the highest numbers of IP filings and international patent applications in China. In 2020, Singapore ranked top in Asia-Pacific for the seventh consecutive year in the Global Innovation Index. We have also just launched the Singapore IP Strategy (SIPS) 2030 in April this year, to chart out future plans in building an IP ecosystem that supports enterprise growth and industry transformation. For instance, enterprises in the GBA can leverage our patent acceleration programmes with global and ASEAN partners to complement their overseas expansions.

28.     Fourth, exploring further cooperation in the biomedical sector. In the next decade or two, both China and Singapore will face an increasing need for aged care. This also means that there is much potential for continued collaboration for Singapore and the GBA in biomedical research and commercialisation. Guangdong has recently launched the Medicine Connect Programme in the GBA, which injected greater vibrancy into its biomedical sector.

29.     Given the investments we have put in into biomedical research over the past years, we are starting to see the fruits of our labour. The growth in the biomedical sector has also led companies to explore venturing into the Chinese market. Conversely, Singapore companies can also partner GBA’s biomedical businesses, to assist them in growing their businesses in the Southeast Asia market.

30.     Fifth, to jointly build a green economy. Singapore aims to halve the amount of emissions it produces at its 2030 peak by 2050. China has also set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. In the post-pandemic era, as we start to adopt sustainable solutions that are environmentally-oriented, it opens greater room for both sides to explore collaborations. For a start, we could share best practices and experiences gleaned from developing solutions for new transport technologies, smart cities, water and waste management, and energy efficiency.

31.     Sixth, promoting talent exchange. The future economy would be powered by talents and we should continue to deepen talent exchange between Singapore and the GBA, especially amongst our students and youths.

32.     I look forward to the implementation of the Singapore-China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme (YES) that will allow Singaporean youths to undergo internship programmes in China, and similarly for Chinese youths to experience the same in Singapore.

33.     The National University of Singapore (NUS) is also in the process of establishing a Research Translation and Innovation Institute in Guangzhou, that will focus on research translation and education programmes to train R&D talents in Guangzhou and the GBA.

34.     Seventh, promote greater interactions between our innovation eco-systems. As part of our efforts to promote and support Singapore start-ups, the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) has been expanded last December to include Shenzhen. Shenzhen has also set up a launchpad in Singapore to support Shenzhen companies venturing into the Southeast Asia market.

35.     Both the GBA and Singapore have vibrant innovation ecosystems. Supported by a deep interconnected web of start-ups, investors and corporates, Singapore’s innovation ecosystem serves as a good base for the co-development of solutions, test-bedding, commercialisation, and for scaling up in the region.

36.     Lastly, to facilitate resumption of people-to-people exchange. In the post-pandemic new normal, leisure and work travels will resume. Both China and Singapore have achieved steady progress in managing COVID-19. At an appropriate juncture, countries and regions may explore resuming cross-border travel with the mutual recognition of one another’s health and vaccination certificates, and do away with isolation requirements.

Closing

37.     I believe these eight areas allow for a comprehensive, in-depth and strategic approach in strengthening collaboration between the GBA and Singapore, and to better tap on unleashed potential on both sides. Although the pandemic has disrupted our development plans, we have found new opportunities amidst the crisis, and will continue to deepen the collaboration and connectivity between Singapore and the region, in sectors such as the economy, digital space and financial sector.

38.     The FutureChina Global Forum was held virtually last year, and this year it took on a hybrid format. I hope that for the edition next year, we can interact face-to-face in the new normal. Thank you.