In response to media queries on the outcome of the inaugural meeting of the joint study from 7-8 March 2000 between Singapore and Japan on a possible bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Singapore spokesman said that the discussions were conducted in a warm and cordial atmosphere and made positive progress in identifying the scope of such an FTA. Both sides would strive to complete the study and to submit by November 2000 a joint report to their respective Prime Ministers with a recommendation on whether both countries should proceed with formal negotiations for an FTA. It is hoped that the Prime Ministers could announce the successful completion of the study and its recommendation when they meet at the sides of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Singapore in November 2000.
The next meeting of the joint study will be in Japan in late April 2000.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
8 MARCH