Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed called on Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan on 24 February 2009. SMS Zainul was accompanied by Members of Parliament Mr Charles Chong and Dr Fatimah Lateef as well as Ambassador Tan Chin Tiong.

Both Ministers reaffirmed the good bilateral relations between the two countries. They agreed that the consecutive APEC Chairmanship of Singapore, Japan and the US in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively presented a golden opportunity for us work out a multi-year agenda to advance free trade in the Asia Pacific. This view was also shared strongly among the participants of the 7th Japan-Singapore Symposium held on 23-24 February 2009. Both Ministers also discussed the Climate Change issue and agreed to work together towards a post-Kyoto Protocol Framework which is equitable and acceptable by both developed and developing economies.



. . . . .


MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
24 FEBRUARY 2009