Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that it is imperative for Japan and China to maintain good relations when he met Taku Yamasaki, former Vice President of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the Istana.

According to the comments by Lee's press secretary, Lee and Yamasaki discussed relations between Japan and China and also developments in the region including the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), agreeing that all Asian countries have an interest in seeing a peaceful resolution of the situation in DPRK.

On the emerging regional architecture, Lee and Yamasaki agreed on the importance of an inclusive participation for the East Asian Summit, which was inaugurated in Kuala Lumpur in December last year.

Lee also hoped that Japan will continue to strengthen its links with the region, especially with the Southeast Asian countries, the comments said.

As this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Japan, Lee and Yamasaki expected bilateral cooperation in economic and other areas to get closer.

Yamasaki and an eight-member delegation of Japanese parliamentarians, which include two former cabinet ministers, arrived in Singapore on Monday for a visit. It is part of their regional tour which also covers Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Hanoi.

Source: Xinhua