Asean 'not just for diplomats and officials': PM Lee

Singapore

IN supermarkets today, Singaporeans can buy Thai rice, Vietnamese coffee and Filipino dried mangoes at "very affordable prices" - this is one of the ways people here have benefited from a free flow of goods and services among Asean countries.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong cited this on Friday at an event to launch Singapore's chairmanship of Asean, adding that: "Asean is not just for diplomats and officials."

He noted: "Asean has benefited all of us who live in South-east Asia, including Singaporeans."

As chair of the 10-nation grouping this year, Singapore will start some projects that will strengthen…