Tony Tan, deputy prime minister and defense minister of Singapore, voiced optimism Friday regarding the structural reform policies of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a Foreign Ministry official said.
During a meeting with Koizumi at his official residence in Tokyo, Tan described Koizumi's reforms as "bold" and said Singapore expects them to be successful, according to the official.
Tan said it is only now that reforms of this kind have become possible in Japan.
Koizumi is scheduled to visit Singapore and make a speech there as a part of a visit to four Southeast Asian nations scheduled to take place from Sept. 16 to 22.
It will be his first trip to Southeast Asia since he took office in April.
Koizumi was quoted as telling Tan that the speech is important as it will constitute his first opportunity to speak abroad on foreign policy since becoming prime minister.