【Capital】：Singapore City
【Geographical Location】: Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, at the entrance to the Strait of Malacca. It consists of Singapore Island and 63 nearby islets, covering an area of 699.4 square kilometers, with Singapore Island accounting for 88.5% of the total area. It has a tropical maritime climate, characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 24-27°C. Singapore boasts beautiful scenery, remains evergreen year-round, and is dotted with gardens and shaded trees, renowned for its cleanliness and beauty. With very little arable land and a population predominantly residing in urban areas, it is known as a "city-state".
【Population】: The citizen and permanent resident population is 4.5 million, with the majority being of Chinese descent. The ethnic composition is 75.2% Chinese, 13.6% Malay, 8.8% Indian, and 2.4% other ethnicities. The official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil, with English being the administrative language.
【Religion】: The main religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.
【Brief History】: Ancient Singapore was known as Temasek and was part of the Johor Sultanate of Malaysia from the 18th to the 19th century. In 1824, Singapore became a British colony and was occupied by Japan during World War II. After Japan's surrender in 1945, British colonial rule was restored. In 1959, Singapore achieved self-governance and joined the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963. On August 9, 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia and established the Republic of Singapore. In September of the same year, Singapore became a member of the United Nations and joined the Commonwealth in October.
【National Flag】: The flag consists of two equal horizontal rectangles, red on top and white on the bottom, with a ratio of length to width of 3:2. The top left corner features a white crescent moon and five white five-pointed stars. The red symbolizes equality among humanity, while white represents purity and virtue; the crescent symbolizes the nation, and the five stars represent democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality. The combination of the crescent and stars is close-knit and orderly, symbolizing the unity and mutual assistance spirit of the Singaporean people.
【National Flower】: The national flower is the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid. In Southeast Asia, orchids are commonly referred to as "胡姬花" (Hujihua). The Vanda Miss Joaquim was cultivated by Ms. Joaquim and is known for its elegant and dignified flowers, as well as its strong vitality, symbolizing the character and hardworking, courageous spirit of the Singaporean people.
【National Emblem】: The emblem consists of a shield, a lion, and a tiger. The red shield features a white crescent and five stars, symbolizing the same meanings as the national flag. To the left of the red shield is a lion, which symbolizes Singapore; the name "Singapore" means "Lion City" in Malay. To the right is a tiger, symbolizing the historical connection between Singapore and Malaysia. Below the red shield are golden palm fronds, with a blue ribbon at the bottom inscribed in Malay: "Onward Singapore!"
【National Anthem】: "Onward Singapore"
【National Leaders】: President S.R. Nathan, who took office on September 1, 1999, serving a six-year term; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was sworn in in August 2004 and re-elected in May 2006, taking the oath of office on May 30; Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who served as Prime Minister for a long time after Singapore's independence in 1965 and resigned from the position in November 1990, becoming Minister Mentor.
【Important Festivals】: Chinese New Year: Lunar New Year between January and February each year; Mid-Autumn Festival: 15th day of the 8th lunar month; Hari Raya Puasa: at the appearance of the new moon in the 10th month of the Islamic calendar; Tamil New Year: between April and May; Thaipusam: between the 1st and 2nd months of the Tamil calendar; Firewalking Festival: between October and November; Vesak Day: the full moon day in May; Christmas: December 25; Easter: the Sunday after the full moon on March 21.
【Politics】: The constitution establishes a parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state, elected by the public for a six-year term. The President appoints the leader of the majority party in Parliament as Prime Minister. The President has the power to veto government budgets and appointments in the public sector; can review the powers granted by the Internal Security Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, as well as investigate corruption cases. The Presidential Advisory Council is appointed to provide advice and recommendations to the President. The President must consult the Presidential Advisory Council before exercising certain powers, such as appointing key civil servants. The President and Parliament jointly exercise legislative power. The Parliament is unicameral, and members are elected by citizens for a five-year term, with the party holding the majority of seats forming the government.
【Economy】: Singapore's economy has developed positively, with an average annual GDP growth of 9% from 1960 to 1984. By the end of 2006, Singapore's per capita GDP reached USD 30,200, making it one of the "Four Asian Tigers". In recent years, Singapore's economy has shown growth momentum. The economy is primarily based on five sectors: commerce, manufacturing, construction, finance, and transportation and communications. The industrial sector mainly includes manufacturing and construction. Manufacturing products primarily consist of electronics, chemicals and chemical products, machinery, transportation equipment, and petroleum products, making it the world's third-largest refining center. Agriculture accounts for less than 1% of the national economy, mainly involving poultry farming and aquaculture. The service sector is the leading industry for economic growth, including retail and wholesale trade, hospitality and tourism, transportation and telecommunications, financial services, and business services. Tourism is one of the main sources of foreign exchange income, with major attractions including Sentosa Island, the Botanic Gardens, and the Night Safari. As of June 2007, Singapore's unemployment rate was 2.4%. Currency: Singapore Dollar (abbreviated SGD), with an exchange rate of 1 SGD = 5.11 CNY.
【Relations with China】: On June 14, 1980, the governments of China and Singapore signed an agreement to establish business representative offices in Beijing, and the following September, the two countries' business representative offices officially opened. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on October 3, 1990, China and Singapore have achieved significant results in mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, with rapid economic and trade development. In May 2005, Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made a friendly visit to Singapore. In October 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to China. In November 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao made an official visit to Singapore. In 2006, the trade volume between China and Singapore reached USD 40.85 billion, a year-on-year increase of 23.3%.
Wen Jiabao delivered a speech in Singapore on China's foreign opening strategy
