Singapore deputy PM to visit Tokyo, Washington

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, is scheduled to visit Japan's Tokyo and the US capital city Washington D.C. this week, the city-state's Ministry of Finance said on Monday. During his stay in Japan from Tuesday to Wednesday, Tharman, who is also chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, will meet his counterpart, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Taro Aso, as well as the Governor of the Bank of Japan Haruhiko Kuroda. He will also meet other government officials and business leaders there. From Thursday to Sunday, the deputy PM will be in Washington. He is scheduled to chair the meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and participate in the Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Tharman will also have several bilateral meetings with his counterparts. A statement from the city-state's finance ministry said the meetings will discuss policy actions to secure economic and financial stability, and build stronger foundations for global growth.