Transcript of Keynote Speech by Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann at the Launch of the Japan Centre, East Asian Institute, Singapore, 27 October 2026

Dr Teh Kok Peng, Chairman of the East Asian Institute,

Your Excellency Mr Ishikawa Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to join you for the launch of the East Asian Institute's Japan Centre. My warmest congratulations to EAI, the Japan Foundation, and everyone who has worked to make this possible.

The establishment of the Japan Centre is timely. This year, we celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations, and the elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership.

Next year, we mark ASEAN’s 60^th anniversary and the 50^th anniversary of the Fukuda Doctrine.

It is therefore a good occasion to reflect on the evolution of Japan’s relations with Singapore and Southeast Asia, and the role that the Japan Centre can play going forward.

Evolution of Japan-Southeast Asia Relations

The theme of today’s Conference is “Japan and Southeast Asia: Forging a Trusted Partnership for Peace, Growth, and Resilience.”

It aptly encapsulates how far Japan’s relationship with Southeast Asia has come, and how much further it can go.

Japan and Southeast Asia have come a long way since the Second World War.

The Japanese Occupation was a dark chapter for many countries in the region, including Singapore.

While we do not forget the past and the hard lessons learnt, we have decided to move forward.

Over the years, both sides have built a partnership founded on trust, respect, and mutual benefit, with Japan playing a constructive role in Southeast Asia’s development.

Japan became the first country to establish informal dialogue relations with ASEAN in 1973. The Fukuda Doctrine was another significant milestone in 1977.

It committed Japan to peace, friendship and equal partnership with ASEAN.

In his speech in Manila nearly 50 years ago, then-Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo spoke of the importance of “heart-to-heart” understanding — the idea that genuine partnership requires mutual respect, personal connections, and a sincere commitment to helping one another succeed.

Over the last fifty years, Japan’s relationship with Southeast Asian countries has continued to deepen and evolve, culminating in the upgrade of ASEAN-Japan relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.

Japanese companies and investment played an important role in Southeast Asia’s industrialisation from the 1960s onwards.

Singapore experienced this first-hand. Companies such as Hitachi, Sumitomo, Murata, and Makino established production operations, creating jobs and transferring technology and skills.

For a period, Japan became Singapore’s, as well as the region’s, largest foreign investor and trading partner.

This economic relationship was strengthened through successive trade agreements.

Beginning in 2002 with the Japan–Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA), Japan’s first-ever Free Trade Agreement.

Followed by the ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or AJCEP, in 2008.

This further progressed to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, in 2018 and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, in 2020.

Today, Japan and Southeast Asia are economically intertwined.

ASEAN is not only an important market and production base, but also a source of innovation, talent and growth for Japan.

In 2025, Japan was ASEAN’s fifth largest trading partner and fifth largest source of foreign direct investment.

In 2025, ASEAN was Japan’s second largest trading partner and accounted for around 15% of Japan’s total trade.

I am also pleased to highlight that Singapore is now Japan’s third largest foreign investor globally.

Beyond the economy, we are also deepening cooperation in traditional and emerging areas, through ASEAN-Japan channels, as well as through Japan’s lattice of Strategic Partnerships and Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with 9 out of 11 ASEAN Member States.

Under the Singapore-Japan Strategic Partnership, we have already concluded 18 agreements.

We broke new ground through a series of “firsts” for both our countries, including agreements in quantum science and technology, space, as well as a bilateral digital policy dialogue.

We are also working together through plurilateral and multilateral arrangements to address regional and global challenges.

Singapore and Japan, together with Australia, worked to strengthen digital trade by co-convening the World Trade Organization's Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce. I am glad that the Agreement on Electronic Commerce was adopted earlier this year.

Another example is Japan’s Asia Zero Emissions Community, where Japan, Australia, and countries in Southeast Asia cooperate to accelerate the regional energy transition while promoting economic growth and energy security.

These arrangements demonstrate how ties between Japan and Southeast Asia have evolved into a broad-based partnership that fosters regional peace, growth, and resilience.

Strengthening Mutual Understanding between Japan and Southeast Asia

We must continue deepening our understanding of each other’s perspectives and aspirations as we write the next chapter of Japan‑Southeast Asia relations.

This will help us realise the full potential for cooperation.

In then-PM Fukuda Takeo’s seminal speech, he recognised that Southeast Asia was not homogeneous.

ASEAN Member States have different histories, cultures, political systems, economic structures, and strategic outlooks.

Despite these differences, we have found ways to cooperate, deepen integration, and strengthen external linkages.

Our region also offers immense potential and opportunity.

Southeast Asia is poised to be the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030.

We are home to a growing, young, and increasingly educated population.

We have dynamic economies, expanding consumer markets, and important centres of manufacturing and innovation.

Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to grow to US$1 trillion by 2030, and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement could potentially double this to US$2 trillion by 2030.

We sit at the intersection of key shipping routes, through which much of Japan’s trade passes.

These emphasise that Southeast Asia should be engaged based on our own merits, and not simply through the lens of major power competition.

At the same time, we should also enhance our understanding of Japan's enduring strengths.

Japan remains a key global economy and an influential international partner.

It has world-leading industrial capabilities, technology, financial capacity, and cultural capital.

However, Japan is also undergoing significant shifts which will reshape its engagement of the region.

Internally, Japan is increasing investments in 17 strategic sectors of its economy to enhance growth and national resilience.

While security cooperation between Japan and Southeast Asia has long been facilitated through the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ADMM‑Plus, Japan has adopted a more proactive posture, including through its Official Security Assistance.

Singapore has been supportive of more cooperation with Japan on security matters.

At the same time, some countries in the region may have a different perspective, and they feel that some historical issues have not been resolved. We hope that Japan can more clearly articulate its position on and put to rest these outstanding historical issues.

Doing so will enable Japan to play a larger role in contributing actively to the region.

The Japan Centre as a Bridge

To build a trusted partnership based on shared interests between Japan and Southeast Asia, governments on both sides have been working to deepen our relationship.

However, mutual understanding and lasting connections must extend beyond governments.

Academic, business, and cultural exchanges help build familiarity and trust that endure.

The EAI Japan Centre can play an important role in providing a platform to do just that.

First, by deepening understanding. The Centre can provide rigorous and independent research on Japan's political, economic, and social developments, and what they mean for Singapore and Southeast Asia.

It can work with Japanese scholars to promote a more nuanced understanding of our region – including the diverse histories, cultures, political systems and priorities that shape perspectives and choices.

Second, by putting forward ideas for cooperation. The three themes discussed today — regional peace and security, economic resilience, and technology and society — provide a strong starting point.

Through comparative research, dialogues and exchanges, the Centre can help identify opportunities where Japan and Southeast Asia can learn from one another.

For instance, Singapore and Japan face aging populations. Japan's experience in aged care, healthcare technology, community-based care and supporting active ageing offers useful lessons for Singapore. Singapore's approaches to healthcare delivery, urban planning, and digital services may offer useful perspectives.

Third, by nurturing the next generation of experts. I hope the Centre will encourage students and younger researchers to develop a sustained interest in Japan and Southeast Asia. This should include opportunities for academic exchanges, joint research, and greater interaction among scholars, policymakers, and practitioners.

In this way, the Japan Centre can be another intellectual bridge between our societies.

This will augment the work of existing government mechanisms and Track 1.5 platforms like the Japan-Singapore Symposium.

I believe that the Japan Centre can help translate the vision for mutual understanding into a practical and mutually-beneficial partnership for a new generation.

I hope the Japan Centre will carry forward the spirit of “heart-to-heart” understanding — building bridges between our societies, deepening our knowledge of one another, and developing new ideas for a peaceful and prosperous future.

My warmest congratulations once again to EAI, Professor Schipke, Dr Ryu, and his team. And let me wish the Japan Centre every success. Thank you.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

27 OCTOBER 2026