PM Lee to make 4-day official visit to Japan

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make an official visit to Japan from Sep 26 to 29, as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Sunday (Sep 25).

Mr Lee will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will host a banquet for him and his delegation.

​During the trip, the Prime Minister will receive a posthumous award from Mr Abe on behalf of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The rare honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, recognises the founding Prime Minister’s “contributions to the development of relations between Singapore and Japan over several decades”, according to the PMO.

Mr Lee’s last working visit to Japan was in 2014, where he delivered a keynote address at the 20th International Conference on “The Future of Asia” organised by Nikkei Inc. and the Japan Center for Economic Research. This time, he will give a speech at a special session of the 22nd Nikkei conference.

The Prime Minister will also meet other Japanese political and business leaders, as well as Singaporeans residing in Japan.

Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Senior Ministers of State Josephine Teo and Sim Ann, MPs Teo Ho Pin and Zainal Sapari, and senior Government officials will accompany Mr Lee in Tokyo, said the PMO.

In his absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam will serve as Acting Prime Minister.