Japan and Singapore discussed resilience, economic security and regional cooperation during bilateral symposium
Japan and Singapore discussed ways to deepen strategic, economic and societal resilience at the 19th Japan-Singapore Symposium (JSS), held in Singapore on 10-11 September. The Track 1.5 dialogue coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and followed the launch of a new Strategic Partnership.
Co-hosted by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) and Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), the symposium was themed “Partnering for Resilience”. It was co-chaired by Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, President of JIIA, and Mr. Ashok Mirpuri, Head of International Policy & Governance at Temasek. More than 160 government representatives, business leaders, academics, experts and members of the public participated in the Public Forum.
The programme included three closed-door sessions on strategic resilience and regional order; economic resilience, technology trust and energy security; and societal resilience, human capital and people-to-people partnerships. The Public Forum opened with a video message from Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, followed by a special SJ60 segment featuring Professor Tommy Koh, Chairman of the NUS Centre for International Law, and Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore.
In his keynote, Mr. Motegi described Singapore as an important regional partner in upholding a free and open international order based on the rule of law. He said, “I intend to materialise cooperation and further advance the relationship between Japan and Singapore together with my long-time friend, Foreign Minister Balakrishnan,” while looking forward to deeper Japan-ASEAN cooperation during Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.
The first panel examined geopolitical and security challenges, including regional stability, crisis preparedness, resilient supply chains, energy connectivity and quality infrastructure. The second considered economic security, trade and technology, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, energy security and the green transition.
In closing, Mr. Yohei Onishi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, said Japan and Singapore had strong potential to cooperate towards a “more resilient and prosperous” Indo-Pacific. Mr. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Minister of State in Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, said Singapore-Japan cooperation had been “driven by a strong orientation towards the future”, reflected in the SJ60 slogan, “Co-imagine, Co-create, Co-evolve”.
Source: Singapore Institute of International Affairs
