reader Posted August 13, 2020 Posted August 13, 2020 From Bangkok Post SINGAPORE: Japan and Singapore agreed on Thursday to ease travel restrictions implemented in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic from September. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he agreed with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan that the two countries will restart mutual visits of businesspeople and expatriates from September, given they take precautionary measures. Japan, which currently bans entry of all foreign nationals from 146 designated countries and regions in principle, said in late July it will newly enter into discussions with 12 Asian economies, including Singapore, on ways to resume travel. The two ministers, in their first in-person meeting since November last year, also plan to discuss the current situation in the South China Sea, where China is stepping up maritime claims, and ways to thwart North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions, the officials said. They are also expected to exchange views on cooperation in responding to the pandemic, possibly touching on the importance of establishing an Asean centre for emerging diseases and public health emergencies. Quote
