Asean is key to region, says PM Lee as S'pore takes chair

Manila

ASEAN is a lifeboat for all 10 countries in South-east Asia to come together, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday, on the cusp of Singapore's helming the group.

Asean, which turned 50 this year, is a vehicle "to have our voice heard on the world stage and to be able to manage our own issues among ourselves, and to cooperate to improve the lives of the people in Southeast Asia", he told Singapore reporters.