PM Lee the first Asian leader to visit the new Japanese
government
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has become the first Asian leader
to visit the new Japanese government.
PM Lee met with his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo
today.
During their two hour discussion, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama briefed Mr Lee on his recent trip to the G20 Summit in
Pittsburgh.
They discussed how the momentum of that summit could be carried
forward to APEC which Singapore will host in November.
PM Lee explains.
"We agreed that this was a long term development, the trend,
because the links between the asian countries is strengthening. But
of course asia has to remember that it is part of a global system.
Therefore, regional cooperation in asia is always in the form of an
open regionalism, that means to maintain our links with the rest of
the world and not to close in on ourselves."
Mr Lee said Mr Hatoyama agreed with his proposal.
The Singapore leader also met Japanese politicians he's well
acquainted with.
He had tea with Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife and
also met the newly elected president of the LDP, Mr Sadakazu
Tanigaki.
Mr Lee again.
"Japan plays an important role in Asia. Whichever government in
Japan the strategic relationships in Asia will not change. I think
Japan's interest will not change that much. Of course, there's
updating of their perspectives, but there's also continuity in
terms of interests and we hope in terms of policies."
Mr Lee will be meeting more politicians as well as business leaders
tomorrow.
--938Live