SINGAPORE, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended here Thursday the Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao for its pillar role in promoting the Chinese culture at the multi-culture society.
Lee made the remarks while addressing the gala party celebrating Zaobao's 95th anniversary at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The prime minister noted the newspaper has stood the test of times and witnessed the changes the Chinese community in Singapore has undergone in a time span of nearly 100 years.
He attributed the success of the daily to its contents being able to resonate among the readers, its reports being objective and profound, and its efforts to promote the local Chinese culture in Singapore.
The prime minister cited examples of the newspaper covering the latest development of the local Chinese community and helping to organize Chinese cultural activities.
Lianhe Zaobao is part of the Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) which also groups the English-language newspaper the Strait Times.
Even though confronted with the challenges of the digital era, Zaobao still embraces its heritage of producing a good newspaper with fine tradition, sticking to its role in uniting the local Chinese community and promoting the values of traditional Chinese culture, said SPH Chairman Lee Boon Yang in his speech.
"These are our fundamental values and they will continue to guide us as we transform ourselves to achieve growth in a more competitive market," the chairman added.
According to him, Zaobao has enjoyed a combined daily circulation of close to 200,000 copies in print and online since August 2017. He also quoted a Nielsen's survey to show that the Chinese-language newspaper has a combined daily readership of 14.7 percent among Chinese Singaporeans.
Lianhe Zaobao was found in 1983 by the merging of two predecessors Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Jit Poh and is one of the best-knowing Chinese media in Asia. Nanyang Siang Pau was set up on Sept. 6, 1923 by the Chinese businessman Tan Kah Kee.
