Bilateral cooperation China, India, Japan and Singapore In recent years, the emerging countries in Asia have gained importance economically but also politically. The dynamically growing national economies are leaders worldwide in terms of economic growth. There are many indications that this development will continue. Unlike other small European countries such as Luxembourg and Iceland, Liechtenstein so far has not established its own representation in Asia. Recently, however, there has been a greater focus on deepening relations with selected Asian countries. This has been accomplished mainly through diplomatic visits. The high-level visits have taken place regularly, accompanied by represen­ tatives of the Liechtenstein private sector. In 2010, the 60-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Liechtenstein was celebrated. The expansion of bilateral relations with China – as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the G8 and G20 as well as a regional economic engine – is of crucial importance. Liechtenstein took the opportunity to present itself at the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Three high-ranking delegations, headed by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein, Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher, Deputy Prime Minister Martin Meyer, and Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick, combined visits to the EXPO with bilateral talks in Beijing. Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying reciprocated by visiting Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick in 2011. A double taxation agreement with Hong Kong was signed in 2010 and – together with the other EFTA states – a free trade agreement in 2011. Also with India, the largest democracy in the world, bilateral relations have been intensified in recent years. On the invitation of the Indian government, H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein and Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick, accompanied by a business dele­ gation and high-ranking officials, visited Delhi in 2010. Talks were held including with Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the President of the Republic of India. Negotiations on an EFTA free trade agreement with India are current­­ly under­way. For Liechtenstein, these negotiations are a top priority. There has been At the opening of the exhibition of the Princely Collections in the National Art Centre in Tokyo, the first bilateral visit of Liechtenstein in Japan took place in October 2012. a greater focus on deepening relations with selected Asian countries. The delegation headed by H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein and Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher consisted of representatives of the State, the financial centre and the industrial sector. Talks took place including with the Japanese Imperial House and with Prime Minister Noda. Liechtenstein and Singapore have maintained intensified bi­la­teral relations for some time now. The two countries took up direct diplomatic relations in 2010. The Foreign Minis­ter of Singapore, George Yeo, paid an official visit to Vaduz in January 2010. On the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein paid an official visit to Singapore the same year and also met with President of the Republic Sellapan Ramanathan. Finally, Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick paid a working visit to Singapore in 2011. The bilateral relations between Liechtenstein and Singapore are also expressed in concrete terms in the cooperation of the two Missions to the United Nations in New York. Singapore | 35