TOKYO: The leaders of Singapore and Japan yesterday exchanged ideas on how to build on the momentum generated by the recent meeting of 20 major economies towards the goal of sustaining economic growth and linking up the Asia-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Singapore media that talks with his Japanese counterpart, Mr Yukio Hatoyama, focused on the results of the recent Group of 20 (G-20) meeting in Pittsburgh and how to build on them in this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Singapore and next year's Apec meeting in Japan.

Mr Lee, who is here on a four-day visit, is one of the first foreign leaders to have talks with the new Japanese Prime Minister after the latter's inauguration on Sept 16 following a landslide victory by his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the recent elections.

It was also the first-ever meeting between the two men.

'We had a good discussion because I am meeting him at a moment after G-20 and before the Asean leaders' meeting and the Apec meeting in November,' said Mr Lee.

He said the momentum from the G-20 meeting was useful in helping to further Apec's agenda of sustaining economic growth and connecting up the Asia-Pacific region as well as to develop trade and investment links in the region.

Mr Lee said that Singapore and Japan were working closely to ensure that the momentum from what was discussed in the Apec meeting in Singapore this year would be carried over to the meeting to be hosted by Japan next year in Yokohama.

'We hope this will lead to some useful initiatives which will contribute to our objective of sustaining growth and connecting up the region,' he said.

In his talks with Mr Lee, Mr Hatoyama had referred to the Japan Cultural Centre in Singapore as an example of the sort of linkages within the region that would contribute to the creation of an East Asia community in future.

Both leaders agreed that this would be a natural, long-term development.

'The links between the Asian countries are strengthening, (not only) the economic links but also the cultural ties and the people movements, and naturally over time, this will develop into a community,' said Mr Lee.

But he stressed that regional cooperation in Asia must always be in the form of an 'open regionalism'.

He said Asia must remember that it is part of the global system.

'The links across the Asia-Pacific are very important. The US plays an important role and Europe too is a significant economic partner,' he said.

Both leaders agreed that the Asia-Pacific region therefore must maintain its links with the rest of the world and not close in on itself.

In an interview he gave to Singapore-based Japanese media prior to his visit here, Mr Lee was upbeat on the role of Japan, saying it remains a 'regional economic powerhouse'.

'The Japanese are a hardworking, talented and innovative people and Japan is still way ahead in many state- of-the-art technologies. Japan is therefore well-placed to continue contributing to our region,' Mr Lee said.

He said that Japan can help Asean to tackle its challenges and pursue economic integration, using its ideas, expertise and resources.

He urged Japan to play a political role and to be a leader on global issues such as climate change.

Mr Lee also met the new president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Mr Sadakazu Tanigaki, yesterday and then had dinner with the heads of prominent Japanese trading companies, securities houses, and chemical and electronics firms to find out what new investments they could bring to Singapore.

'Japanese companies are very good clients of ours, good employers, generate good jobs. Their investments are productive and successful and we hope to have more of them,' said Mr Lee.

-end of ST article