SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore and Japan commemorate their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations on Sunday with the exchange of congratulatory letters between Singapore Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.
Both countries established their diplomatic relations on April 26, 1966, and have since become partners working together to address regional and global challenges.
In his letter, Wong said Singapore-Japan relationship has deepened into a strong and multifaceted partnership over the past six decades, anchored in close people-to-people ties, substantive cooperation, and a convergence of strategic interests.
"Our economic partnership has been a key pillar. Japanese investment and technology contributed significantly to Singapore’s early development.
"Today, bolstered by the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2002, our countries are among each other’s largest trading partners and investors," he said.
A copy of his letter was shared by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its official portal on Sunday.
Wong said the elevation of Singapore-Japan relationship as Strategic Partnership during his visit to Japan in March provides a strong framework to guide future cooperation in areas like the green and digital economies, and supply chain and economic resilience.
"At the same time, we can continue to collaborate in plurilateral frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
"These efforts will help to uphold a rules-based international order and foster regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity," Wong added.
Meanwhile, Takaichi in her letter noted that the upgrade of the Japan-Singapore relationship demonstrated the close bilateral cooperation, built up over many years and now developed into a new phase.
"Taking advantage of the various anniversary events to be held this year, I strongly hope that exchanges and mutual understanding between our peoples will be deepened, thereby laying the firm groundwork to further advance the Strategic Partnership.
"I look forward to cooperating with Your Excellency to deepen the Japan-Singapore cooperation toward the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in 2036," she said.
-- BERNAMA
