On November 19, 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council delivered a speech entitled "Only an Open and Inclusive Nation Can Be Strong" at the National University of Singapore.

Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng accompanied Wen during the event.

Wen said that it could be concluded based on China's history that only an open and inclusive nation can be strong and an introverted nation will remain backward.

China chose the road of reform and opening up at the end of the 1970s. Since then the country has carried out reform domestically and opened to the outside world. By reform and opening up, we have seized the historical opportunities and realized nearly 30 years of rapid growth, with remarkable improving comprehensive national strength and people's welfare and rising international position. China's opening up endeavor has made world-acclaimed achievements.

China's development history over the past 30 years tells us that today's world is open and it is impossible for a country to develop by isolating itself. We are working to build socialism with distinctive Chinese characteristics, and our fundamental objective is to boost productive forces and meet the increasing material and cultural needs of the people. To meet this goal, we must remain committed to opening up while addressing issues arising in the course of domestic development and reform.

He stressed that China's opening up policy is long-term and has brought great benefits to more than 1 billion Chinese people. As a basic national policy, it will remain unchanged. China's opening up is comprehensive in nature. We are open not only to the developed countries, but also to the developing countries. We are open not only in economy, but also in fields such as science, technology, education and culture. China's opening up policy is based on mutual benefit. We are committed to conducting mutually beneficial cooperation on an equal basis with all the other countries in the world. Only on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win progress can opening up endure and be conducive to the fundamental interests of all peoples and peace and prosperity of the world.

Opening up and inclusiveness contribute to the achievements of Singapore and promote China's development. By being open and inclusive to each other China and Singapore have witnessed rapid progress of cooperation. China is implementing a scientific concept of development and working to build a well-off society in an all-round way, while Singapore is pursuing the strategy of building a new Singapore. The bilateral cooperation faces new development opportunities. We will, as always, strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with Singapore and believe the bilateral cooperation will enjoy promising prospects.

Later, Wen answered the questions of journalists.

Delivering a speech, Lee Kuan Yew said that China is committed to pursuing reform and opening up, following the road of peaceful development and conducting friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with all the countries in the world. Singapore is confident of China's development. The economic takeoff of China exerts a big influence on the world and benefits the entire Asia including Singapore. Singapore needs to train more talented people who speak Chinese fluently and understand China's traditional culture and modern development and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China.

Prior to making the speech, Wen and Lee jointly launched "Business China" which was established under the initiative of Lee Kuan Yew by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry with the purpose of building a new platform using Chinese as the exchange media to promote China-Singapore cultural and business cooperation.

About 1,300 people including the faculties and students of the National University of Singapore were present at the event.