Japan and Singapore agreed Friday to strengthen economic cooperation, confirming plans to jointly promote the export of infrastructure systems to other countries.
During a meeting in Singapore, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also confirmed plans to coordinate moves in negotiating for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and another large free-trade bloc known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which encompasses East Asia.
Abe said at a joint news conference after their talks that he and Lee also agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' defense forces, especially in rear-area assistance in cases of disaster and rescue operations.