BEIJING: The recent uproar among Chinese netizens over Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's call for the United States to remain engaged in Asia to balance China is 'normal', the Chinese Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

It will not affect the bilateral mood ahead of President Hu Jintao's state visit to Singapore next week, the ministry suggested.

'Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is a renowned statesman, and also an old friend of China's,' Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue told reporters at a briefing on Mr Hu's trips to Malaysia and Singapore, where he will also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

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