The Japanese and Singaporean Prime Ministers have agreed to strengthen cooperation in economics and security, while confirming plans to accelerate trade and investment under a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

The Japanese Foreign Ministry has reported that during their talks in Tokyo on May 22, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked for Singapore’s continued cooperation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks that Japan will join.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed Japan’s participation in the TPP talks.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the situations in their respective country, the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the issues involving the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

During his visit to Japan until May 24, the Singaporean PM Lee will attend and deliver a speech at an international conference on Asia’s future, in Tokyo.-VNA