PM Lee the first Asian leader to visit the new Japanese government

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has become the first Asian leader to visit the new Japanese government.

PM Lee met with his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo today.

During their two hour discussion, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama briefed Mr Lee on his recent trip to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

They discussed how the momentum of that summit could be carried forward to APEC which Singapore will host in November.

PM Lee explains.

"We agreed that this was a long term development, the trend, because the links between the asian countries is strengthening. But of course asia has to remember that it is part of a global system. Therefore, regional cooperation in asia is always in the form of an open regionalism, that means to maintain our links with the rest of the world and not to close in on ourselves."

Mr Lee said Mr Hatoyama agreed with his proposal.

The Singapore leader also met Japanese politicians he's well acquainted with.

He had tea with Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife and also met the newly elected president of the LDP, Mr Sadakazu Tanigaki.

Mr Lee again.

"Japan plays an important role in Asia. Whichever government in Japan the strategic relationships in Asia will not change. I think Japan's interest will not change that much. Of course, there's updating of their perspectives, but there's also continuity in terms of interests and we hope in terms of policies."

Mr Lee will be meeting more politicians as well as business leaders tomorrow.