Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan delivers a keynote speech virtually at the 15th Japan-Singapore Symposium (Photo: www.mfa.gov.sg)Singapore (VNA) – Singapore and Japan havere-affirmed their sound bilateral relations amid current challenges, and hoped to enhance collaboration in digitalisation, innovation and the green economy, aswell as infrastructure cooperation in third countries.
Addressing the 15th Japan-Singapore Symposium held on January25-26, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa underlined that Singapore isan important partner in Japan’s foreign policies.
The countries have various cooperation chances, including infortifying supply chains, building infrastructure and digital transformation.
Specific fields of cooperation include support for Japan’s Freeand Open Indo-Pacific and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN linkage improvement;upholding standards for trade agreements such as the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and collaboration in the fightagainst COVID-19.
Despite disruptions to the global supply chains and tradebrought about by COVID-19, Japan has remained one of Singapore’s top tradingpartners, and Singapore continues to be a popular destination for Japaneseinvestments, affirmed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore VivianBalakrishnan.
He reiterated that the countries should actively exploreeven more opportunities for collaboration, especially in the emerging areas ofdigitalisation, innovation and the green economy./.
