PM Lee congratulates Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on election victory
Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Fumio Kishida. speaks during a news conference after the results of the Upper House elections on Jul 11, 2022. (Photo: Pool via AP/Rodrigo Reyes Marin)
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida to congratulate him on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) victory in Sunday's parliamentary election.
Japan's conservative coalition government increased its majority in the upper house of parliament, two days after the assassination of prominent LDP member and former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
In a letter dated Jul 14, Mr Lee said: "While your party’s success comes at a time of grief given the recent passing of former prime minister Abe Shinzo, the election results are a strong signal of the Japanese people’s trust and confidence in your government and leadership."
He noted that Singapore and Japan have an "excellent and multi-faceted partnership, underpinned by warm people-to-people ties and close cooperation across many sectors".
"During our recent meetings in Tokyo and Singapore, we expanded collaboration in many areas including digitalisation, innovation and defence. We also agreed to explore further collaboration in the economic sphere and on the full resumption of cross-border travel," wrote Mr Lee.
He added: "I look forward to continue working with you to further enhance our ties."
