[Provisional Translation]

On Friday, July 26, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an official visit to the Republic of Singapore, where he paid a courtesy call on Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, the President of Singapore, held a Japan-Singapore Summit Meeting, and attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore. An overview of the meetings is as follows.

1. Courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam

On July 26, for approximately 30 minutes from 10:45 a.m. (local time), Prime Minister Abe paid a courtesy call on Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, the President of the Republic of Singapore (attending on the Singaporean side included Mr. Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information (accompanying Prime Minister Abe). Attending on the Japanese side included Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Mr. Yoichi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore).

(1) At the beginning, President Tony Tan Keng Yam greeted Prime Minister Abe with a warm welcome and stated that the Liberal Democratic Party's victory in the recent House of Councillors election meant strong support from Japanese people to Prime Minister Abe's economic policy.

(2) Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would like to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region, particularly those of ASEAN, that Japan has developed together with ASEAN in the past 20 years, and that he would like to construct a relationship that enables growth of ASEAN along with Japan's growth and growth of Japan along with ASEAN's growth. In response to this, President Tony Tan Keng Yam expressed his expectation that development of not only Japan and Singapore but the entire ASEAN region would be achieved through "Abenomics" and economic partnerships such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

(3) Moreover, Prime Minister Abe introduced efforts for youth exchanges through "JENESYS 2.0" and both leaders shared the view that promotion of mutual understanding among younger generations would be important to strengthen the bilateral relationship in the future.

2. Japan-Singapore Summit Meeting

On July 26, for approximately 30 minutes from 11:20 a.m. (local time), Prime Minister Abe held a Japan-Singapore Summit Meeting with Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore (attending on the Singaporean side included Mr. Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information [accompanying Prime Minister Abe]. The attendance on the Japanese side included Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Mr. Yoichi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore).

(1) At the beginning

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed Prime Minister Abe's visit and at the same time expressed his congratulations on the ruling party's victory in the House of Councillors election. In response to this, Prime Minister Abe stated that he was pleased to be able to make an official visit to Singapore, which was the first time in 11 and a half years by a Japanese Prime Minister, and also stated that following the summit meeting held last May, he would like to conduct a frank exchange of views and strengthen cooperative relationships between the two countries.

(2) Cooperation with ASEAN

Prime Minister Abe stated that based on the confidence obtained from the Japanese people as a result of the House of Councillors election, he would like to promote strategic diplomacy which contributes to peace and prosperity in the region and the world in the future, and particularly he would like to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed his great expectation toward Japan's roles in the region and also stated that he would like to further deepen Japan-ASEAN relations on the occasion of the 40th Year of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation.

(3) Bilateral relationship

A. In terms of policies and security, both leaders shared the view that they would strengthen cooperation concerning logistic support for the peace and stability of the international community and also shared the view that it is important to deepen exchanges between younger politicians of the two countries from the viewpoint of promotion of mutual understanding.

B. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong invited Prime Minister Abe to attend the "Shangri-la Dialogue" planned next spring and Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude for the invitation.

C. Subsequently, Prime Minister Abe explained his efforts for realization of the Abe administration's economic policies, particularly the "Japan Revitalization Strategy," and stated that he would realize policies included in the strategy one after another. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated his idea that revitalization of the Japanese economy is important for the development of the region, including Singapore. Specifically, both leaders shared the view that they would keep the promotion of cooperation in export of infrastructure, with enhancement of ASEAN Connectivity and cooperation in infrastructure development in a third country in mind, in negotiations for economic partnership such as TPP and RCEP, and in promotion of "Cool Japan."

D. Moreover, concerning the issue of aging society with decreasing birth rate, the problem that both countries face, Prime Minister Abe expressed his expectation of further cooperation in the field of bio-technology and medicine utilizing Japan's strengths. In addition, Prime Minister Abe introduced the efforts for the "National Strategic Special Zones" to promote direct investment from abroad and stated that he would like to hold an investment promotion seminar for Singaporean enterprises. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe explained an agreement concerning currency supply utilizing Japanese government bonds and the beginning of negotiations for conclusion of bilateral swap agreements. Both leaders welcomed the development of financial cooperation between the two countries.

E. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pointed out that thanks to Japan's participation, TPP came to have more essential and strategic significance and requested Japan's proactive participation into RCEP.

3. Luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

On July 26, for approximately 60 minutes from 12:20 p.m. (local time), Prime Minister Abe attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore (attending on the Singaporean side included Mr. Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information [minister accompanying Prime Minister Abe]. Attending on the Japanese side included Mr. Yoichi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore).

(1) Remarks by the two Prime Ministers

A. In his toast, Prime Minister Lee stated that he was pleased to meet with Prime Minister Abe again shortly after their meeting in Tokyo last May and was also pleased by Prime Minister Abe's decision to visit South-East Asia immediately after his victory in the House of Councillors election. Prime Minister Lee also stated that Japan and Singapore have many things to learn from each other and expected that he would cooperate with Prime Minister Abe in the future for strengthening coordination between the two countries and also in ASEAN.

B. Subsequently, in his toast, Prime Minister Abe stated that he accompanied Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, then prime minister, during his visit to Singapore, as the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 11 years ago and added that the cityscape has changed since then and the number of tourists from Japan has been further increasing. Prime Minister Abe also stated that in order for the two countries to keep developing, the two countries must always be ahead of the times through constant innovation. Prime Minister Abe added that Japan has a lot of things to learn from Singapore and he wished the two countries to prosper together and contribute to the development of the region together.

(2) Content of exchanges

A. Both leaders shared views on strengthening of cooperation for the purpose of achieving results concerning the future of the Japan-ASEAN relationship, which greeted the 40th Year of Friendship and Cooperation this year, at the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit Meeting to be held in December in Tokyo.

B. Concerning the issues related to the South China Sea, both leaders shared the recognition that all the concerned countries should make their assertions based on the relevant international laws, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and solve the issues peacefully.

C. Both leaders exchanged opinions concerning issues of the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korean issues.

D. Prime Minister Abe described the status of discussions and deliberations in Japan concerning constitutional amendment and the right of collective self-defense. With regard to constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Abe explained that the government is deepening debate on the Constitution that would accommodate the current situation of Japan, while taking "pacifism", "the sovereignty of the people" and "fundamental human rights" as given. Regarding the right of collective self-defense, Prime Minister Abe explained that consideration of the matter will be made from the standpoint of ensuring Japan's security and contributing to the Japan-U.S. alliance and the peace and stability of the region, reflecting the changes in the overall security environment in the international community.