S'pore-Japan upgrade ties as PM Wong launches historic first visit
Singapore and Japan have formally upgraded their relationship to an "Strategic Partnership," expanding cooperation across five key areas including trade, digitalisation, defence, green transition, and energy exchange ahead of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's inaugural official trip as prime minister on March 18-20 in Tokyo.
Key Points
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1Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed that the two nations are strategically aligned with shared views on free trade.
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2The bilateral ties have significantly strengthened over 60 years to form a solid foundation in an uncertain world.
Developments
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated on March 18 during his visit to Tokyo that Singapore remains strategically aligned with Japan over free trade, international cooperation, a rules-based order, shared historical memory of the Japanese Occupation, and new growth sectors in AI, quantum technology, space exploration, cybersecurity.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced an upgrade of ties with Japan to a Strategic Partnership after acknowledging that while Singapore remembers lessons from World War II's Japanese Occupation, it does not allow itself "to be trapped by history." The two nations agreed on strategic alignment supporting free trade and cooperation in priority sectors such as AI, quantum space technology.