Asean needs louder voice on the global stage now more than ever: PM Wong
Asean and its partners must show that there is a way to benefit from more integration, cooperation and free trade rather than isolation
[VIENTIANE] It is now more important than ever for Asean to strengthen regional integration and ensure it has a louder voice on the global stage, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (Oct 12).
Established almost six decades ago, the 10-member bloc has been effective and played a very important role over the years, he said in an interview with the Singapore media to wrap up his four-day visit to Laos.
He was in the capital Vientiane since Wednesday (Oct 9) for the 44th and 45th Asean Summit and related meetings. This was followed by an official visit on Friday and Saturday, during which he had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
PM Wong noted that Asean came into being in 1967 during the Cold War period, where concerns abound of proxy conflicts and spheres of influence. At the time, there was a fear that the South-east Asian region would end up in a protracted period of disputes, he said.
But with the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the region has been able to largely avoid these scenarios from happening.
“Asean came together. We were able to get countries, despite our differences, to start thinking as one grouping, to start thinking about regional interests and regional integration. That’s a big plus which we should never discount,” he said.
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When asked about his response to critics who say Asean is nothing more than a toothless talking shop, PM Wong said: “We have to be realistic about what Asean can or cannot do, and we should also appreciate the wide diversity of countries.”
Amid the current geopolitical landscape – characterised by several major conflicts, growing protectionism and an increasing appetite for self-sufficiency – the positive steps made by Asean and those taken with its external partners come at an important time, said PM Wong.
Hence, “it’s important that Asean and (its) partners show that there can be a different way – a way where we work together and benefit from more integration rather than more isolation; where we can benefit from win-win cooperation and free trade.”
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Growth engine
Asia remains the growth engine of the world, said PM Wong, and Singapore-based businesses can benefit from opportunities in the wider region as Asean strengthens ties with its external partners.
At this week’s summit chaired by Laos, Asean member states and China substantially concluded negotiations to upgrade their free trade area in the areas of the digital and green economies. The aim is to work towards a full conclusion in 2025.
Asean and South Korea also upgraded their dialogue relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and agreed to work towards upgrading the Asean-Korea free trade area.
Warm bilateral ties with Laos
Laos and Singapore – two Asean member states with similar population sizes – have a “very warm” friendship, said PM Wong.
“In many ways, we see common ground, similarities in the development journey that they are going (through), which we have undergone,” he explained.
“That’s why we have been doing so much. We are fully committed to supporting their own development and supporting them with capability-building programmes.”
In terms of mutual cooperation, new and promising areas also exist, such as in the renewable energy space.
Since 2022, Singapore has been importing up to 200 megawatts of renewable hydropower from Laos – which envisions becoming the “battery” of South-east Asia – under the first collaboration among Asean countries on multilateral cross-border electricity trading.
Both countries are looking at ways to do more, not just through the land grid, but also potentially through subsea cables, added PM Wong.
On the food security front, Laos – which is over 300 times larger than Singapore in terms of land size – could be a potential source of food exports to the Republic, which is looking to diversify its imports, said the prime minister.
Businesses in this space may also be looking to invest in agriculture. PM Wong added that a team from the Singapore Food Agency will visit Laos in November to explore possibilities.
Myanmar crisis
At the summit, Thailand offered to host an “informal consultation” of Asean in December to find a solution to the Myanmar crisis – a multi-year long flashpoint in the region and a recurring topic in leaders’ remarks.
When asked about Singapore’s response to this, PM Wong reiterated that Asean will do its best, and maintained the importance of being realistic.
“It’s really an issue for Myanmar to resolve.. And it’s not going to be so straightforward for any party – not just Asean (but) any outsider – to come in and say this is the way to resolve it,” he explained.
“But it doesn’t mean that we give up,” he said. “We should continue to support efforts at constructive dialogue, engaging, at peaceful resolution, and that’s what Asean is doing.”
Diplomatic debut
This year’s Asean Summit was PM Wong’s first multilateral summit since he was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth prime minister in May.
Asked about his takeaways from this week’s trip, he noted that a lot of the discussions between leaders take place during informal interactions outside of the formal meeting rooms.
“I found that to be a very useful opportunity to build the relationship with my counterparts… and then to continue to grow bilateral ties, and think of ways in which we can advance Asean integration,” said PM Wong.
Earlier on Saturday, he called on Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in the morning before meeting the Singapore media. PM Wong and his delegation returned to Singapore in the afternoon.
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