Japan, Singapore to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions from September
Japan and Singapore agreed on August 13 to ease travel restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic from September, targeting businesspeople and expatriates, on condition they take measures to prevent infections.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (left) and his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, meet in Singapore on August 13. Photo: Kyodo
Tokyo (VNA) - Japan and Singapore agreed on August 13 to ease travel restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic from September, targetingbusinesspeople and expatriates, on condition they take measures to preventinfections.
"We will justneed to confirm small details before the resumption of reciprocal visits,"Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was quoted by Kyodo News as saying afterreaching the agreement with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan attheir meeting in the Southeast Asian country.
The minister is on afour-day trip to Singapore and Malaysia, starting from August 12.
On August 13, he willtravel to Malaysia for talks with Mohamed Azmin Ali, the country's minister ofinternational trade and industry, and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
After returning toJapan, Motegi will then visit Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar fromAugust 20 to 25.
Japan has forbidforeign travellers from 146countries and regionsfrom entering the country, even if they are permanentresidents or long-term residents.
TheTokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 206 new coronavirus infections on August13, surpassing the 200 mark for the second straight day./.
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Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (left) and his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, meet in Singapore on August 13. Photo: Kyodo 
