Japan-Singapore Summit Meeting (Summary)

On December 16, commencing at 2:40 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-Singapore Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, who is visiting Japan to participate in the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The meeting was also attended on the Japanese side by H.E. Mr. SAITO Ken, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. MURAI Hideki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, among others; and on the Singapore side by H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, among others.
 
1. Introduction
Prime Minister Kishida expressed his gratitude for Prime Minister Lee’s visit to Japan, and congratulated President Tharman on his inauguration. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that, as the world is at a historical turning point, Japan places great importance on promoting cooperation with ASEAN, including Singapore, to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure a world where human dignity is protected. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his hope that the Commemorative Summit would become an opportunity to pass on to the next generation the "trust" which Japan and ASEAN have built thus far, and to further strengthen the relations between Japan and ASEAN. In response, Prime Minister Lee appreciated that he was welcomed by the Japanese side on his visit, and expressed his hope that he would work with Prime Minister Kishida to further develop Japan-Singapore relations.
 
2. Bilateral Relations
Prime Minister Kishida expressed his desire to accelerate cooperation in promising industries of the two countries such as start-ups, the strengthening of supply chain resilience, and digital, by utilizing frameworks such as Japan-Singapore Economic Dialogue, and to strengthen cooperation on energy transition and decarbonization through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting. In addition, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he would like to deepen defense cooperation and exchange between the two countries. In response, Prime Minister Lee welcomed the deepening of security cooperation, and stated that he would like to further promote cooperation in new areas other than security. Furthermore, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the MOC on shipping corridor and port.
 
3. Responding to regional and international challenges
The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and international issues, and also confirmed that Japan would continue to further enhance coordination with Singapore, which will serve as ASEAN Country Coordinator for Japan from next summer.