S. DhanabalanFormer Foreign Minister of Singapore1980 - 1988
Transcript

Lee Kuan Yew visited China in 1980, 1985 and 1988, covering cities from Shenzhen, Xiamen, Dalian, Kunming to Wuhan. Having been to different parts of the country, he was able to understand and compare their unique characteristics. He sometimes revisited the same cities so that he could observe their developments and changes. When Lee met the younger generation of Chinese leaders, he noted that their approach and thinking were different from those of their predecessors. He also brought the core members of Singapore's next generation of leaders on his visits, hoping to sustain relations between the two countries.

During these 10 years, Singapore and China implemented their trade and economic cooperation plans, with Singapore establishing a trade representative office in China.

Following his visit in 1988, Lee told Singapore reporters that China and Singapore had established mutual trust and understanding. China knew that Singapore was consistent and credible, while Singapore knew that China did what it said it would do.

19 November 1980. Lee Kuan Yew and his delegation arrived in Wuhan after taking a 28-hour boat ride along the Yangtze River from Chongqing. They visited the Wuhan Steel Mill.

November 1980.The Singapore delegation at the Zhoukoudian Site Museum (row closest to the tour guide, from left): Foreign Minister S. Dhanabalan, Second Deputy Prime Minister S. Rajaratnam, (back row, from left) Mrs Dhanabalan, Acting Minister for Social Affairs Dr Ahmad Mattar and Goh Chok Tong.

Lee Kuan Yew visited China three times in the 1980s — in 1980, 1985 and 1988 — visiting at least 15 cities. His incisive views of China were formed through walking the ground in each of his trips that lasted over a week. Many of the photos capture his rapt attention when visiting local factories and historical sites. This video provides a first-person narration of Lee's thoughts and observations during these trips.

15 September 1985. Lee Kuan Yew and his delegation arrived in Shandong and stayed at the Confucius Family Mansion (Kong Fu). They visited the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius.

At a dinner function the next day, Shandong Governor Li Chang'an greeted Lee on Lee's 62nd birthday. Lee said he would always remember waking up on his birthday at the Confucius Family Mansion. He observed that seniors were respected in China and Southeast Asia because people felt that age and wisdom went hand in hand. The Americans, on the other hand, valued the dynamism of young people. He said he belonged to the former group and hoped that China's tradition of respecting the elderly would continue.

September 1985. On his second visit to Xi'an, Lee Kuan Yew stopped by the Great Mosque of Xi'an at Huajue Alley. He had a conversation with Imam Ma Liangji (in keffiyeh) on Muslims in China.

September 1985.Lee Kuan Yew met 76-year-old Chinese President Li Xiannian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Lee told Li that he was younger than him and had a lot to learn from him.

1985. It was Lee Kuan Yew's second trip to Xiamen. He visited Hulishan Fortress, built in 1894, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing dynasty. The Krupp cannon in the photograph purchased from the Krupp factory in Germany is the largest and best-preserved 19th-century coastal cannon in the world today.

1988. Lee Kuan Yew visited the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, a modern “sports city” completed in August 1987 for 300 million RMB. Guangdong Governor Ye Xuanping originally had meetings planned in Beijing but he went back to Guangzhou to receive Lee.

1988. Lee Kuan Yew met 81-year-old Chinese President Yang Shangkun (right), who assumed the post in April that year. They discussed China's economic reform and opening up during their 90-minute meeting.

In 1988, Lee Kuan Yew met 84-year-old Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping at the Fujian Room of the Great Hall of the People. Lee said Deng looked sprightly and that his voice was loud and clear. Commenting on China's economy, Deng said China had done well over the past decade but was also facing new problems, such as the need to fight inflation and foster discipline. Both men also exchanged views on China-US relations and Taiwan. This was Lee's last meeting with Deng.