TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has used a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart to promote Japan's Shinkansen "bullet" train technology for use in a planned high-speed railway linking Singapore and Malaysia.
Abe, serving as top salesman for Shinkansen trains, held talks Wednesday with Lee Hsien Loong at the state guest house -- a venue for top-level hospitality -- instead of the usual Prime Minister's Office. Japan is bidding for a planned railway linking Singapore and the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
Lee spoke highly of the Shinkansen's safety record and reliability, saying it stands in "good stead" in the upcoming bidding.
The two leaders also agreed to co-operate in promptly putting the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal into effect. The two countries are part of the 12-nation effort.
