Not just once, bro. It's multiple times since Mao Zedong era.
Back in the 70s in Mao era, no other country give a hoot about China because they see it as a closed backward communist country with no hope. Singapore and LKY was one of the very few countries who flew to China and make diplomatic engagement with Mao and China. Since then, China has very deep respect for Singapore and LKY.
And in 70s, that is when LKY implemented that all local SG Chinese must learn Mandarin in schools for at least 12 years of education. He already has the vision that China will, one day, rise to be the big dragon economy (which he was so right about it, as we already see China becoming the biggest economy today).
Back in the early 90s, one of our local national universities already started to reach out to china market recruitment and admissions of Chinese people, way before any other international western institutions done in the similar way.
And these graduates of our university are already in high chinese government posts and top business men. Many of them are our alumni members.
