Abe, Lee Vow to Cooperate to Expand TPP Membership

November 16, 2018

Singapore--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, agreed Thursday to work together to expand the membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

The 11-nation TPP is set to come into force on Dec. 30.

Abe and Lee, who met on the sidelines of meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore, also confirmed they will aim for an early conclusion of a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade deal.

They also agreed on continued close cooperation to resolve North Korea's nuclear, missile and abduction issues and counter China's militarization of the South China Sea.

In a separate meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Abe said Japan will support recovery and reconstruction efforts following a powerful earthquake on the island of Sulawesi in September.

Abe and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern agreed to strength bilateral cooperation to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

In a meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Abe said he wants to promote bilateral cooperation.

Abe exchanged words with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It is unknown whether they discussed a recent South Korean Supreme Court ruling that ordered a Japanese company to pay compensation to South Koreans forced to work in Japan during World War II. Jiji Press