Engagement with Asia high on list of priorities for Japanese PM
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 November 2009 2022 hrs

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SINGAPORE : Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Sunday said his government places engagement with Asia as one of its top priorities.

Mr Hatoyama, who is in Singapore to attend the APEC Leaders' Meeting, was giving a speech on his administration's foreign policy approach at an event organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Engagement with Asian countries, and more broadly Asia Pacific countries, is high on the list for the Japanese prime minister.

Japan, like Singapore, is facing many post-economic challenges, including a falling birth rate and coping with an ageing population. And while it has the knowledge and experience to deal with such challenges, Mr Hatoyama said Japan can look towards Singapore on how it adapts its economic strategies to cope with the changing times.

He said: "This country provides a great example of how openness to the world can lead to a dynamic and prosperous society. Here, I also sense the infinite possibilities for APEC's 'open regionalism'."

Mr Hatoyama outlined areas of possible cooperation, namely economic partnership agreements and climate change. He said countries should work together because this would lead to not only practical gains but also mutual trust.

And while his government is also keen to explore more economic partnerships, he acknowledged that greater trade volumes would not lead to mutual understanding between economies.

He added that the US has played and will continue to play an important role in ensuring the peace and prosperity of Asia.

Meanwhile, Japan will also dispatch a Maritime Self-Defence Force (SDF) vessel in 2010. This ship will carry not only SDF officials, but also people from non-governmental organisations and other private sector and civil society entities. Their mission will be to conduct medical services and extend cultural activities in the Pacific and the Southeast Asian region. - CNA/ms