Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on Sunday underscored the strategic importance of a free-trade agreement to be negotiated between his nation and Japan at a time when both Europe and the United States are looking to expand their own regional FTAs.

Earlier in the day, Goh and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori agreed on the January launch of negotiations toward a comprehensive bilateral FTA that would facilitate free trade and services between the two countries, including in the field of information technology.

At a press conference after the meeting with Mori, Goh stressed that the bilateral FTA would be the first arrangement by two Asian countries and that it could promote similar moves in the region.