SM Lee: Japan-S'pore ties to be 'even more dynamic, progressive'

Set to mark 60 years of bilateral relations, nations seek more ways to cooperate

- Walter Sim

OSAKA - The enduring friendship between Japan and Singapore, a bond that has not only withstood the test of time but also flourishes with each passing year, is poised to enter an "even more dynamic and progressive" chapter, said Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Aug 24.

This bilateral relationship, set to mark its 60th anniversary in 2026, "stands as a testament to what countries can achieve when they work together with mutual respect and shared purpose", he added.

SM Lee was speaking at Singapore's National Day celebrations at the Osaka World Expo, a six-month extravaganza themed Designing Future Society For Our Lives that concludes on Oct 13. Participating countries and regions are each granted a dedicated "National Day" to spotlight their unique cultures at a National Day Hall.

The celebrations commenced with the national flags of Singapore and Japan raised to their respective national anthems. Among the Japanese dignitaries in attendance were Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and former foreign minister Taro Kono, who chairs the Japan-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship League.

With the multilateral rules-based order facing severe strain, SM Lee stressed the critical imperative to double down on "more, not less, international cooperation".

"Japan and Singapore recognise this, and are looking for more ways to cooperate, and to strengthen our ties," he said. And participating in a global event like the Osaka World Expo is a "powerful reminder that when we work in concert, what we create is far greater than the sum of its parts".

In their speeches, both SM Lee and Mr Hayashi noted the close cooperation between Singapore and Japan cultivated over the decades, which has expanded into new domains such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy and smart city solutions.