Taking bilateral relationship between Singapore and Japan to newer heights

Prime Minister Abe
Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

A very good afternoon to all of you.

1. It is a great honour and privilege for Singapore, the government and the people, to receive Prime Minister Abe in Singapore.

2. Singapore and Japan enjoy a deep and broad range of relationships, including economics, politics, and people to people exchanges.

3. This afternoon's exhibition, “The Beauty of Kogei”, extends our collaboration into the arena of art, culture and heritage.

4. We all know that Japan is a country steeped in tradition and rich in innovation. In Japan, there are many things that they have done over thousands of years; every now and then, they will always inject fresh ideas and new creativity to refresh all these old traditions.

5. Take for example, the writing instrument – pen – which has been around for a long time. In many other countries, a pen is a product of science. But in Japan, it is a product of science and art. Take a close look at this pen, a Namiki pen. It is a writing instrument, but it is also painted with beautiful and delicate pictures, by very famous artists.

6. This is an excellent example of how the Japanese people have creatively made writing a perfect harmony between art and science. When one uses a Namiki pen to write, it is really poetry in motion.

7. For the bilateral relationship between Japan and Singapore, we already have a very strong, cordial and cosy foundation. We can always inject new ideas, new creativity, to further expand this solid foundation.

8. And Prime Minister Abe's visit, as well as this exhibition, "The Beauty of Kogei", extends and broadens this foundation, taking the bilateral relationship between the two countries to newer heights.

9. On this note, I would like to wish Prime Minister Abe, all the people present here, as well as the people in the two countries: happiness, prosperity and good health!

10. Thank you very much!