Japan-Singapore Relations
Japan-Singapore Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
July 27, 2024
On July 27, commencing at 10:35 a.m. local time (July 27, 0:35 p.m. Japan Time) for approximately 20 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ meetings, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Vivian BALAKRISHNAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa expressed her pleasure to see Minister Balakrishnan again and stated that she would further develop the relations between Japan and Singapore, which assumes the ASEAN Country Coordinator for Japan from this summer, looking ahead to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026. In response, Minister Balakrishnan expressed his desire to work closely with Minister Kamikawa to further deepen cooperation with Japan in a wide range of areas such as digital and green.
- Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan attaches great importance to promoting cooperation with Singapore to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and expressed her intention to further advance security cooperation. Minister Kamikawa also stated that she would further promote a wide range of cooperation including in economy and human resource development, including through utilizing the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, referring to cooperation for decarbonization such as the Second Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting in August. In response, Minister Balakrishnan expressed his desire to promote cooperation with Japan in such areas as well.
- The two Ministers also exchanged views on the regional situation including the situation in the East and South China Seas and confirmed that they would continue to work together.