Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, 16 December 2023

  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is in Tokyo for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, met Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on 16 December 2023.

  Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the longstanding and excellent relations between Singapore and Japan. Both leaders discussed how Singapore and Japan could further expand and deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as the future economy, digitalisation, sustainability and energy, and security. Both Prime Ministers also welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Singapore and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan on the establishment of a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor between ports in Singapore and Japan,¹ to facilitate the adoption of digital solutions and the provision of zero and near-zero emission fuels through demonstration projects. Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Kishida looked forward to celebrating 60 years of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations in 2026.

  Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, and emphasised the importance of upholding a rules-based international order and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.  Both leaders welcomed the upgrade of ASEAN-Japan relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership earlier this year, and noted that this would be an opportunity to further ties between both sides as well as jointly address the challenges facing the region.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

16 DECEMBER 2023

¹ The ports in Japan are Port of Kawasaki, Port of Kobe, Port of Nagoya, Port of Osaka, Port of Tokyo and Port of Yokohama.