After trying to outdo each other in sports, the foreign ministers of Malaysia and Singapore will engage in talks to achieve a win-win resolution on various issues, such as the proposed new bridge linking both countries.

This in between a soccer game and other athletics events between their respective contingents in the ministries' annual two-day games, according to a Bernama report today.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said Singapore would listen to what Kuala Lumpur has to say on the various issues affecting both neighbours, including the mooted construction of a bridge to replace the causeway linking both countries

"It's important to have discussions on the basis of good neighbourliness and goodwill," he told television news channel, Channel NewsAsia .

Yeo and Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar head their ministries' contingents at Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Wisma Putra Games which started this morning with soccer.

"We look forward to having discussions with them. Syed Hamid has clarified the Malaysian position yesterday, so we'll see what they'll say and we'll try to achieve a win-win position for everybody," Yeo said.

Bearing cost each half

Malaysia had proposed the construction of a bridge to replace the 80-year-old causeway, with Singapore and Malaysia bearing the cost of construction of each half of the bridge.

Singapore has yet to agree to the proposal despite several rounds of negotiations, prompting Malaysia to go ahead with the plan to replace only its side of the causeway.

Malaysia said last week that it was going ahead with the plan to build a bridge to replace its side of the causeway, prompting Singapore to send a note asking for clarification.

The negotiations, however, could not go on forever without a decision, Syed Hamid had said.