SINGAPORE (AFP) – Chinese action star Jet Li has taken up Singapore citizenship and bought a property in the city state worth nearly 20 million Singapore dollars (14 million US), according to a report.

The Business Times did not say when the Beijing-born star took up his new nationality or bought the upmarket property. It did not give its source.

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) would not confirm the newspaper report when contacted by AFP for reasons of confidentiality.

A Beijing-based staff member at Li's One Foundation contacted by AFP declined comment.

Li is the latest Chinese star to have taken up Singapore citizenship, following in the footsteps of leading actress Gong Li, who shot to fame with her roles in "Farewell My Concubine" and later "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Gong Li, who is not related to Jet Li, became a Singapore citizen last year.