PM Lee Hsien Loong's Toast Speech at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo, Japan

Prime Minister and Mrs Shinzo Abe, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to visit Japan on the 50th anniversary we established diplomatic relations between our two countries. I would like to thank Prime Minister and Mrs Abe for their warm welcome and hospitality.

Singapore’s relations with Japan are close and longstanding. It started with Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the 1960s. Mr Lee visited Japan many times over the years. He developed a good understanding of the country and a great admiration for the Japanese people. For the discipline, for the resourcefulness and for their good cohesion. He met nearly every Japanese Prime Minister from Prime Minister Sato onwards in the 1960s, all the way to Prime Minister Abe today. Mr Lee encouraged Japan to play an active role in the region. To turn the page on history and to fulfil its potential in peace with its neighbours. He did so for Singapore itself, in Singapore-Japan relations, and thus laid the foundations for our relations to blossom. That is why we in Singapore are very honoured that His Imperial Majesty has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers posthumously to Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Our relations have progressed steadily and our economic ties are substantial. We work well together in multi-lateral forums – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations. Our people-to-people relations are intimate. I held a National Day Reception for Singaporeans yesterday evening at the Palace Hotel. 450 Singaporeans turned up. Some working here, some studying here, some on exchange visits, and some with Japanese spouses and children who are bicultural. In Singapore, there is a large Japanese community – more than 35,000. Hundreds of thousands of tourists’ visits between Singapore and Japan in both directions each year. Japan is one of Singapore’s most popular travel destinations. The Japan Creative Centre in Singapore, which I first discussed with Mr Abe in his previous term as Prime Minister is now flourishing. It organised many events on Japanese culture which has deepened our mutual understanding and appreciation. The latest manifestation of Japanese soft power is the Pokemon Go. It has even become almost as popular as Super Mario.

On a more serious note, after the great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Singaporeans responded with solidarity to help the victims. We felt an obligation, a responsibility and compulsion to do what we can to help our fellow human beings in need.

While we have achieved much together in the last 50 years, there is potential to do much more. We should work together to deepen our economic cooperation, foster regional integration, support security and stability in the region, and create prosperity and better lives for our peoples.

May I now invite you to join me in a toast to the health of Their Majesties – the Emperor and Empress, the good health and success of the Prime Minister and Mrs Abe, the peace and prosperity of the people of Japan, and to the success of our cooperation and friendship between Japan and Singapore.

Kanpai.