Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Singapore
(Overview and Evaluation)

August 2, 2002

The following is an overview of the meeting that took place on the afternoon of August 2, 2002, between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and ministers from the Government of the Republic of Singapore, including Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Lee Kuan Yew, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Minister for Foreign Affairs S. Jayakumar.

1. Evaluation

Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi engaged in a frank exchange of opinions with leaders in the Government of Singapore. While building close personal relations, the leaders agreed to further strengthen the existing friendly and close relations between Japan and Singapore.

(1) At the bilateral level, the two nations agreed to further deepen cooperation in a variety of fields, based on the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement for a New Age Partnership (JSEPA) that was signed in January 2002.

(2) At the level of regional cooperation, it was confirmed that the five initiatives for the future of relations between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during his trip to Southeast Asia in January 2002, are of great use in promoting cooperation between Japan and ASEAN. Prime Minister Goh and the other leaders pledged that Singapore would render unstinting cooperation in order to promote this concept.

(3) A frank exchange of views was carried out with regard to the regional situation, such as China's economic development and Islam in Southeast Asia. In particular, it was agreed that China's economic development represented not a threat but an opportunity and that it was necessary for China to be brought into the international framework, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).

2. Overview of Meetings

1. Meeting with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong

(1) Taking note of the impact of China's economic development on the region, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi pointed out the necessity of fitting China into the WTO and frameworks of regional economic cooperation. Prime Minister Goh stated that it was important for Japan and Singapore to view China's economic development as an opportunity and to adapt to new circumstances and plan for harmonious coexistence by boldly reforming domestic economic systems.

(2) Commenting on Islam in Southeast Asia, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi noted that while there was a small number of extremists, Islam was a very moderate force and was at heart basically a religious movement. Prime Minister Goh said that Islam was a complicated issue concerning people's beliefs, and he pointed to Singapore, a successful country in which Muslims lived harmoniously in a multi-religious society, as an example of how the issue of Islam in Southeast Asia could be resolved in a forward-looking manner.

(3) Prime Minister Goh said that Japan's contributions to Southeast Asia were extremely important, whether in regard to relations with China or in regard to Islam in the region. From this viewpoint, he expressed complete support for the initiatives announced by Prime Minister Koizumi in January 2002.

2. Meeting with Senior Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Lee Kuan Yew

(1) Commenting on China's future, Senior Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Lee stated that China would become a major economy at the same time it is experiencing major changes. In addition, Senior Minister Lee noted that in order to create a prosperous Asia, close cooperation among Japan, the United States, Europe, India, and ASEAN was necessary while fitting China into the global economic framework, such as the WTO, and the role played by Japan and the United States was especially important. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi pointed out the necessity of constructing a social system of inter dependence, and Senior Minister Lee agreed.

(2) Noting the Islamization movement taking place around the world at present, Senior Minister Lee stressed the necessity of deep insight to understand the matter. He added that it was necessary not to view Islamization only as a threat but also to see it as an opportunity.

(3) Senior Minister Lee shared his conviction that although economic reform faced a tough road in Japan, Japan would achieve economic recovery. He expressed the hope that Japan would once again achieve strong economic growth and would strengthen its close relations with Southeast Asia.

3. Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

(1) Commenting on the regional economy, centered on Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Lee stressed the necessity of raising the region's appeal by including Indonesia in a growth triangle. He noted that relations with countries outside the region, such as Japan and the United States, were also important.

(2) Deputy Prime Minister Lee expressed the view that ASEAN would definitely become a large economic entity within the next 20 to 30 years and stated that it was important for Japan to continue its involvement in the region.

(3) Deputy Prime Minister Lee noted that while the Chinese economy was facing a number of problems, China had managed to change at an incredibly rapid pace and was becoming a major economic entity. Taking this fact into account, he expressed his hope that Japan would strengthen its interactions with the region as well.

(4) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained the course of the economic reforms Japan was undertaking. Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated that he fervently hoped and confidently expected that Japan's economic reforms would succeed.

4. Meeting With Minister for Foreign Affairs S. Jayakumar

(1) Japan and Singapore agreed on sharing the benefits of the regional system, such as values, social systems, the involvement in the region of the United States, and the security of sea lanes.

(2) Japan and Singapore agreed to further deepen bilateral relations in a variety of areas, based on the JSEPA. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi spoke highly of the JSEPA, saying that it could serve as a model for promoting economic partnership with other nations in the region. Foreign Minister Jayakumar noted that the JSEPA was attracting a high degree of interest from other countries in Asia.

(3) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that the beginning of moves toward democratization in Myanmar could be seen and explained her intention to engage in thorough talks with both the government there and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to Myanmar scheduled to begin on August 3. Foreign Minister Jayakumar stated that while the prevailing opinion within developed nations was that dialogue with Myanmar was premature, for ASEAN, Japan's initiative was seen as extremely encouraging.