SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Guangzhou on Monday (Mar 27) at the start of his first trip to China in more than three years.
Landing in Guangzhou at 12.19pm, Mr Lee was greeted by Chinese officials, including Guangdong Vice Governor Zhang Xin and the People’s Republic of China’s Ambassador to Singapore Sun Hai Yan.
He was accompanied by Madam Ho Ching, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Law Rahayu Mahzam as well as other Singapore government officials.
Mr Lee’s first stop was autonomous driving technology company WeRide, headquartered at the Biotech Island of Guangzhou.
WeRide, which provides driverless vehicles such as Robotaxis and Robovans, currently counts Singapore public transport operator SMRT and venture capital firm K3 Ventures as investors.
The tech company signed a memorandum of understanding with SMRT subsidiary Strides last November as part of its plan to trial autonomous vehicles in Singapore in the second half of this year. WeRide aims to gradually expand operations to the rest of Southeast Asia.
During his nearly half-hour visit at WeRide’s premises, Mr Lee and his retinue were briefed on the company’s operations, technology and reach.
He also rode on one of WeRide’s Robobuses – part of a fleet that is currently plying the roads of Guangzhou as a form of public transport.