Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is making a working visit to Japan from 3 to 5 December 2018.
Minister Balakrishnan was hosted to dinner by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and had a good discussion on how Singapore and Japan can further broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation. The Ministers also exchanged views on domestic developments in Japan and key regional developments, including ASEAN-Japan relations, the situation in Rakhine State, Japan’s relations with its neighbours, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Kono also signed and exchanged the Japan-Singapore Partnership Programme for the 21st Century (JSPP21) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which jointly provides technical assistance to third countries. The JSPP21 MOU underscores both countries’ commitment to support the future-oriented growth of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific through technical assistance.
In the last two days, Minister Balakrishnan also met Minister in charge of Economic Revitalisation Toshimitsu Motegi, General Council Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Katsunobu Kato, Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi, former Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, former LDP Deputy Secretary-General Shinjiro Koizumi, members of the Japan-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship League, National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Shotaro Yachi and Keidanren Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi. In these meetings, Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral ties with Japan and explored ways to elevate bilateral and regional cooperation through new areas of collaboration.
Minister Balakrishnan will meet LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, former LDP Secretary-General and former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Hiroto Izumi, Japanese academics and Singaporean business representatives in Japan tomorrow.
Minister Balakrishnan will conclude his visit to Japan on 5 December 2018.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
4 DECEMBER 2018