SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Aug 28) said that bilateral relations between Singapore and Japan deepened under the leadership of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and wished him a "good recovery".
Mr Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, announced earlier on Friday his resignation, citing ill health.
Mr Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and recently made two hospital visits within a week.
"I am sorry to learn that Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has resigned from office for health reasons," Mr Lee said in a Facebook post.
"I have worked well with Mr Abe for close to nine years. Under his leadership, our bilateral relations have deepened ... I wish Abe-san a good recovery as he begins treatment for his condition," he added.
READ: Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo?
The last time both leaders met in person was in November last year, said Mr Lee. They also met online in April, during a virtual ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19.
Mr Lee said Mr Abe had also played a "critical role" in concluding the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the United States left the original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.
Singapore and Japan are among the 11 parties to the CPTPP, which was concluded in January 2018 in Tokyo, according to information on the Ministry of Trade and Industry's website.
READ: Who could lead Japan after Shinzo Abe?
Speaking to CNA's Otelli Edwards on News 5 Tonight, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed Mr Lee's comments on Mr Abe's role in the CPTPP.
"When America pulled out, it was Prime Minister Abe's leadership that got the other 11 members of the TPP to proceed. And now today the CPTPP brought into force, ratified by most of its members, is a compliment to the efforts and the leadership of Prime Minister Abe," said Dr Balakrishnan.
Dr Balakrishnan called Mr Abe a "very positive, constructive force" for relations between Singapore and Japan, adding that the Japanese leader got on "very, very well" with Mr Lee.
"We're sorry for his resignation and for the fact that he had to do so under pressure ... because of his health, said Dr Balakrishnan.
"We wish him all the best and hope he makes a full recovery," he added.
With additional reporting by Matthew Mohan.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbGVlLWhzaWVuLWxvb25nLXNoaW56by1hYmUtamFwYW4tcG0tcmVzaWduLTEzMDYyOTIy0gEA?oc=5
2020-08-28 14:03:45Z
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