Singapore national day Close cooperation continues to blossom

Chin Siat Yoon great country. Before this, I had Over the past year, our politi- extends to various regional and Ambassador of Singapore served successively as singa- cal relations have strengthened multilateral forums such as the pore’s ambassador to Thailand, through a flurry of high-level Association of southeast asian Singapore is celebrating 47 years Germany and China. Since pre- exchanges between our two Nations (ASEAN), asEAN re- of independence today, Aug. 9. senting my credentials to His Im- countries. Prime Minister Lee gional Forum (ARF) and East I remember the early years: it perial Majesty Emperor , I Hsien Loong and Prime Minis- Asia summit (EAS). We have was a very tough have met many Japanese leaders, ter met in ho- also capitalized on each other’s time. As a small officials and businessmen. From nolulu last November on the strengths to provide technical as- country with no my conversations with them, it is sidelines of the aPEC summit. sistance to third countries under natural resourc- clear that singapore and Trade minister Yukio Edano and the framework of the Japan-Sin- es, we could share many common strategic, Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba gapore Partnership Program for only depend on political and economic interests. visited Singapore not long after the 21st Century (JSPP21). our strategic lo- Our bilateral relations are in they took up their respective The economic linkages be- cation and wit to good shape. posts last September and Octo- tween singapore and Japan are develop singa- A week after my arrival in To- ber. Lee Kuan yew, singapore’s robust. singapore is the largest pore. The withdrawal by Britain kyo, I visited Rikuzentakata, Iwate former prime minister, also vis- Asian investor in Japan, while Ja- of its forces from east of the Suez Prefecture, and Soma, Fukushima ited Tokyo in May this year to pan remains one of singapore’s Canal starting in 1971 added to Prefecture, to pay my respects attend the Nikkei International top foreign investors. Japan is our multitude of challenges. We to the victims of the March 11, Conference on The Future of also a popular tourist destina- are what we are today, a pros- 2011, earthquake and tsunami, Asia, and met up with many of tion for many singaporeans. In perous, bustling and modern, which devastated both cities. In his old friends. recent years, a growing number garden city-state not by chance, the aftermath of the March 11 di- In June this year, Singapore’s of Japanese travelers have visited but by good leadership, deter- sasters, there was a spontaneous Minister for Foreign affairs K. Singapore. I hope that more will mination and hard work. The outpouring of sympathy among Shanmugam made his introduc- come to experience our vibrant, support of friends like Japan has many Singaporeans. We collected tory visit to Japan where he an- multiethnic lifestyle. Among our been crucial. Japan was among more than ¥2.2 billion (35 million nounced that both sides would various new attractions, the two the first foreign countries to in- Singapore dollars) in donations conduct the third review of the integrated resorts have been a big vest heavily in Singapore. Japan’s — one of the largest amounts Japan-Singapore Economic draw. To these, we have now just contributions helped to lay the ever raised by singaporeans for Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) added the Gardens by the Bay. foundation of our subsequent in- any foreign country struck by first signed in November 2002. On this auspicious day, I wish dustrialization and development. natural disasters. The donations He also reiterated singapore’s to re-emphasize singapore’s I assumed the post as singa- have since been channeled to strong support for Japan’s par- commitment to work closely with pore’s ambassador to Japan in several reconstruction projects ticipation in the Trans-Pacific Japan to further strengthen our April this year. It is an honor and in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Partnership (TPP). bilateral ties, and promote peace privilege for me to serve in this prefectures. Our close cooperation also and prosperity in the region.

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