Singapore-Japan 60th Anniversary (SJ60) Commemorative Reception - Ms Grace Fu

1. It is a privilege to be with everyone this evening to celebrate a great milestone at SIWW – the 60^th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic Relations

2. Our two nations established diplomatic relations in 1966. Through many decades of close cooperation, we stand today as steadfast partners. Our good relationship is underpinned by key bilateral agreements such as the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as meaningful cooperation in international and multilateral platforms including our work on the Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment.

3. 2026 marks a new chapter for our bilateral relations.
   The upgrade to a Strategic Partnership earlier this year reflects the enduring trust of our people, deepened over the decades. We share a partnership that is broad, substantive, and forward-looking. And climate action is an area that clearly illustrates the relevance of our partnership.

Climate Change and the Importance of Adaptation

4. Addressing climate challenges is more important now than ever as we navigate the changing global landscape.
   Once seen as a distant threat, climate change is now actively reshaping our coastlines, disrupting rainfall patterns, and testing the resilience of our cities.

5. For global cities like Singapore and Tokyo, the stakes are especially high. Rising sea levels, more extreme rainfall,
   and higher temperatures are not hypothetical scenarios. They are real and present challenges which our engineers, planners, and policymakers are facing. We must respond decisively and adapt to these realities to protect lives, preserve livelihoods, and safeguard our futures.

6. It is with this in mind that MSE designated 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation. This national call to action aims to raise awareness of the importance of climate adaptation, galvanise collective action, and co-create solutions with our stakeholders across the public, private, and people sectors. Through a comprehensive review of climate adaptation measures across key domains, including coastal and flood resilience, we will strengthen Singapore’s collective climate resilience.

Bilateral Cooperation

7. But domestic action alone is not enough. Climate change is a global challenge that transcends borders, and addressing it requires us to cooperate globally for finance, technology, and knowledge. This is why international cooperation has always been central to Singapore's climate action efforts, and why our partnership with Japan holds particular significance.

   1. At the G2G level, Singapore and Japan engage closely through the MSE-Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Memorandum of Cooperation on Climate Science and Climate Adaptation.
      We also enjoy substantive exchanges on water network management and climate adaptation approaches for coastal and flood resilience, including urban flood management and flood emergency response.

   2. At the G2B level, Singapore’s National Water Agency PUB enjoys strong relationships with many key Japanese water industry players, including those here today. Over the last two decades, we have seen a cluster of two dozen Japanese companies establishing their presence and research centres in Singapore. Many of these companies, including Meidensha, Metawater, Toray and Sekisui, have supported our operations through your innovative solutions.

      1. Toray has been a critical longtime partner in our membrane research and development. Together, we are working closely to advance the next‑generation of energy‑efficient reverse osmosis membranes for desalination and NEWater applications which will support the generation of clean water for all.

      2. Meiden has also been a key supplier of ceramic membranes for several Singapore water reclamation plants. We greatly appreciate your contributions in the development of our water reclamation and desalination plant projects,
         as well as the pilot testing of new generation ceramic membranes.

   3. At the B2B level, Singapore and Japanese water companies have demonstrated close cooperation by co-investing, co-developing, and co-delivering water and climate resilient infrastructure projects not just in our two countries, but across the Asia-Pacific region. The companies in this room tonight represent the innovative spirit of enterprise and partnership, as seen through your meaningful participation in and engagement with the Singapore International Water Week— and I want to acknowledge the work you do. It is your investment and expertise that translate our ambition into outcomes and turn our vision to reality.
      I hope this spirit will energize the Singapore Water Association’s study visit to Japan later this year. And I look forward to the new ideas and partnerships that will emerge from these exchanges on coastal resilience.

Conclusion

8. The climate challenges ahead are significant. However,
   I remain optimistic. In this room, I see the sixty years of trust and collaboration between Singapore and Japan. We share a deep understanding – that strengthening water resilience and developing climate adaptation strategies are strategic imperatives for our people’s wellbeing. It is through decades of close partnership that we have made meaningful progress together.

9. Our success has always been driven through our ideas, rigour and willingness to share what we know with the world. As we face the defining climate challenges of this century, let us carry that same spirit forward for Singapore, Japan, and the rest of the global community.

10. Thank you.