S'PORE RELATIONS WITH JAPAN WILL ENHANCE WITH NEW PM

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Singapore is confident the new leadership
in Japan will further enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries
and engage more with the Southeast Asian region.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there were many areas where
the republic and Japan could work together for mutual benefits such as
environment protection and maritime security.

He said this in a congratulatory letter to Japan's new prime minister, Taro
Aso, who took over the post from Yasuo Fukuda after he was voted in by the
Japanese parliament Wednesday.

Lee said Singapore and Japan enjoyed strong bilateral relations
"underpinned by a confluence of strategic interests", adding that the country
had longstanding links with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean).

The prime minister also said Singapore and Japan would be hosting the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit next year and in 2010
respectively, and this would provide a unique opportunity for both countries to
cooperate in promoting regional economic integration.
-- BERNAMA