anding on Cultural Cooperation. Both sides will continue to engage in exchanges and visits between officials at all levels, including the China-Singapore Forum on Leadership and China-Singapore Social Governance Forum, and the Framework Agreement on the exchange of mid-level and senior officials. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in education and start discussions for a bilateral agreement to facilitate internships between university students from both countries on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
9. Both parties agreed to deepen collaboration in urban governance through mutual knowledge-sharing and joint initiatives to create new knowledge, insights and innovative solutions to address the current and future urban challenges facing the cities of both countries. Such collaboration would also support the creation of highly liveable cities that are economically competitive and environmentally sustainable with a high quality of life.
10. Both sides recognise the importance of Research and Development (R&D) and innovation to economic and societal development, and agreed that China and Singapore have strong complementarities and potential for cooperation. Both sides will continue to foster scientific R&D cooperation through the China-Singapore Joint Research Programme, facilitate talent exchanges and training, and share best practices in technology transfer. Both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation in ecological civilisation, circular economy, environmental research and development as well as environmental governance, and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, implement the Paris Agreement, promote China-ASEAN cooperation in environmental protection and work together to support the launching of the International Coalition for Green Development on the Belt and Road.
11. Both sides agreed to enhance legal and judicial cooperation. Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation on disaster management and emergency rescue, and law enforcement cooperation, including combating transnational crimes, corruption, money laundering, cybercrime and narcotics. Both sides have agreed to commence negotiations on a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Both sides affirmed the annual China-Singapore Legal and Judicial Roundtable as a key platform for bilateral legal and judicial cooperation as well as in Belt and Road cooperation. Both sides welcomed the Memorandum of Guidance on the Recognition and Enforcement of Money Judgments in Commercial Cases signed between both Supreme Courts. Both sides looked forward to stronger legal and judicial cooperation along the Belt and Road.
12. Both sides will continue to strengthen bilateral defence relations through continuing high-level visits and mutual attendance of multilateral defence platforms such as the Beijing Xiangshan Forum and the Shangri-La Dialogue, expanding practical cooperation between the PLA and the SAF, and institutionalising exchanges between defence think tanks. In particular, both sides have agreed to the conduct of bilateral Army exercise Cooperation in 2019 and to refresh the Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation (ADESC) which was signed in 2008. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen China-ASEAN defence cooperation, and continue to conduct the China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise.
13. Both sides agreed that China-ASEAN relations have made good progress. China appreciates Singapore's contributions to promoting the development of China-ASEAN relations in its capacity as the coordinator for China-ASEAN dialogue relations over the past three years. China welcomed the achievements made and key initiatives launched under Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship. As this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, both sides welcomed the adoption of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 Statement at the 21st China-ASEAN Summit and commended the substantive outcomes from the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation 2018, including China's support for the ASEAN Smart Cities Network. Both sides also reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region.
14. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to rules-based multilateralism, support for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, adherence to international law, and would continue to maintain close communication and cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral organisations. In this vein, both countries agreed that instruments such as the United Nations Convention on Mediation are important to the multilateral rules-based order and will consider signing it.
15. Both sides share the view that as contributors and beneficiaries of free trade, China and Singapore share a wide range of common interests. Both sides will work together to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system as embodied by the WTO, and make economic globalisation more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. China and Singapore are also working closely to achieve the swift conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
16. The two sides welcomed a series of bilateral cooperation agreements signed during the visit, as listed in the Annex.
17. Premier Li Keqiang thanked the Singapore Government for the warm reception and invited Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to visit China for the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong accepted the invitation.