SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has written to his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba to congratulate him on his appointment, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) on Tuesday ( Oct 1 ).
Mr Ishiba, Japan’s former defence minister, won a close-fought contest last week to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ( LDP ). Japan’s congress confirmed previously on Tuesday the visit of the 67-year-old as prime minister.
In a letter to Mr Ishiba on Tuesday, Mr Wong said the success reflects the LDP’s trust in Mr Ishiba’s authority.
Mr Wong noted that both countries enjoy “warm, meaningful and longstanding” relationships and cooperate in many places, such as the economy and military.
” Our cooperation has expanded to emerging places like start-ups and creativity, green and electric change, and security co-operation”, said Mr Wong.
” We have even worked up in crisis situations. Our nations issued a joint declaration on supply chain resilience and made sure that vital travel lanes remained open during the COVID-19 crisis.
Additionally, Mr. Wong noted that Singapore and Japan work nicely in regional and international forums, with the two nations ‘ collaboration supported by a shared desire to “uphold the multilateral trading system and support the rules-based international get.”
” Singapore appreciates Japan’s major contributions to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Commission and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as at the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.”
” As state representative for ASEAN-Japan relationships, Singapore is totally committed to deepening Japan’s assistance with ASEAN”, said Mr Wong.
Mr Wong added:” On a private statement, we appreciate the many links you have with Singapore, nurtured over many years of companionship. We can still remember our previous excursions to Singapore, and I recently had the opportunity to host you at a Meet-the-People gathering in my district in 2014.
” I look forward to working with you to enhance our bilateral ties even more,” says the president, “especially as we commemorate our 60th anniversary in 2026.”