PM WONG SAYS SINGAPORE TO ADVANCE ASEAN INTEGRATION, INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS DURING 2027 CHAIRMANSHIP
SINGAPORE, June 9 (Bernama) -- Singapore will push for deeper regional integration and enhance external partnerships to navigate global challenges when it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship next year, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Singapore will take over the ASEAN chairmanship from the Philippines in 2027.
Wong said these two key areas will be Singapore's agenda in spearheading the regional bloc, in line with ASEAN leaders' vision to be more united to navigate the new global environment.
He said ASEAN will continue to work on strengthening its partnerships because the region cannot operate alone, given its diverse range of economies and capabilities.
"ASEAN has always wanted a region that is open and inclusive, where we engage all the major partners, whether it is the United States (US), China, or other major powers like Europe or emerging groups like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"We want to find ways to strengthen links with other groupings, not just the traditional partners," he said during a dialogue session organised by the Singapore Press Club on Monday.
According to the prime minister, ASEAN hopes to strengthen cooperation with all key partners and bring them together in the region, maximising the prospects for continued stability and prosperity.
Explaining further, Wong said ASEAN's outlook on the Indo-Pacific is that the bloc does not want to see a region dominated by a single power.
He believed that the region should engage all major players and bring them together to find common ground and advance areas of shared concern or cooperation.
"We do not want to see zero-sum competition here, or to have exclusive commitments to any single party.
"We also do not want to see a world that's divided into competing spheres of influence, where there is one sphere dominated by a single power here in Asia, another sphere in the western hemisphere, and then another sphere in Europe," he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on regional integration, Wong said the bloc is progressing well in terms of trade and investments, but is still looking into seamless interoperability across different economies.
"There are regulatory restrictions and there are ways in which we can make things more seamless.
"We can also look at connectivity in other areas, not just in trade and investments or air connectivity, but people-to-people, digital, payments, transport and power grid connectivity," he added.
Wong also emphasised that ASEAN, with its diverse range of economies, is stronger when working together rather than as small individual markets.
“We have to stand together for ASEAN to be a collective of 700 million people, a sizeable economy, with greater influence and a better ability to navigate the challenges around us,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
