By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz
SINGAPORE, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has congratulated Shigeru Ishiba on becoming Japan’s new premier on Tuesday.
In a letter to the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Wong said he looks forward to working together with Ishiba to further deepen the extensive relations between Singapore and Japan, especially as the two countries will be commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
“Singapore and Japan enjoy warm, substantive and longstanding relations. We cooperate in a wide variety of areas, including the economy and defence.
“Our collaboration has expanded to emerging areas like start-ups and innovation, green and digital transformation, and security cooperation,” Wong said, adding that both countries have worked together in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Singapore and Japan also cooperate well in regional and international fora.
Wong said Singapore as country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations, is fully committed to deepening Japan’s cooperation with the regional grouping.
Ishiba was formally elected as Japan's prime minister by the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, succeeding Fumio Kishida.
Meanwhile, in a separate letter to Kishida, Wong stated that Japan has become stronger domestically and internationally under his leadership.
Wong said relations between Singapore and Japan have deepened under Kishida’s premiership in various areas.
The text of the letters were shared by Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.
-- BERNAMA
