The leaders of China and Taiwan meet Saturday in Singapore for the first time since the two sides clashed in a civil war seven decades ago, in a carefully managed encounter that caps eight years of improved economic ties.

The long-awaited 11-storey China Cultural Centre in Queen Street has been completed and a writers' forum featuring five reputed Chinese novelists tonight will kick-start its series of pre-launch programmes. Designed by prominent Singapore architect Liu Thai Ker, the centre took over two years to build. Its official opening later this year is expected to be hosted by both countries' top leaders.

Every year, about 120 students in the National University of Singapore (NUS) are busy preparing for the biggest student production in campus: NUANSA Cultural Productions. It is an annual show which was started as a humble initiative in 2008 by a group of Indonesian students in NUS, aiming to showcase the diverse and rich Indonesian culture to the Singaporean community. 

The website of Lianhe Zaobao has helped Singapore's leading Chinese-language newspaper become an important symbol of the Republic's soft power, a prominent Chinese thinker said last night as the online portal marked its 20th anniversary.

From 'cultural desert' to a city with 66 arts performances a day, Singapore has come a long way. A week of half-price tickets for local shows sponsored by companies could help bring the arts closer to average families.

Singapore has progressed from merlions and orchids to street food and star violinists parachuted onto international stages. But the latest attempt by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to conquer hearts and minds in Beijing, London and New York is taking a more subtle turn. Singapore Inside Out, the three-city tour of Singapore art and design, wrapped up its five-day gig in London yesterday. Strategically opening in London's hip (and some say hi

In Art Hats In Renaissance City, artists, arts managers and academics share their reflections on the development of the arts in essays and interviews. They include Esplanade chief executive Benson Puah, Asian Civilisations Museum director Alan Chong and Pangdemonium! co-artistic director Adrian Pang. [...] The hardcover book is divided into four sections: Leaders; Curators, Critics and Historians; Artists and Practitioners; and Academicians.

Diplomats with these koalafications don't come cheap. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop could barely contain her glee when she was filmed with the furry foursome of Paddle, Chan, Pelita and Idalia at the launch of Singapore Zoo's new koala exhibit last week. But Australian taxpayers might not be so happy to learn that the diplomatic donation – made to mark 50 years of Australia-Singapore relations – cost them $133,100.