On November 12, 2022, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, played host to a high-profile meeting of senior officials from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. This gathering marked a significant moment in strengthening regional cooperation on key issues such as trade, security, and climate change.
During the two-day summit, Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to fostering a strong and dynamic ASEAN community that is responsive to emerging global challenges. The minister emphasized the importance of economic integration, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation on shared security concerns as crucial components in ensuring regional peace and stability.
Enhancing Regional Cooperation
Minister Balakrishnan also underscored Singapore’s role in promoting ASEAN’s strategic vision, which includes the development of a thriving and dynamic region that is capable of addressing global challenges. The minister stressed the need for greater regional economic integration through initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), as well as strengthening regional security arrangements to address common threats.
Furthermore, Minister Balakrishnan highlighted Singapore’s active engagement with other regional organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. He emphasized the importance of building stronger partnerships with our neighbors and like-minded countries in Southeast Asia and beyond, to foster a more connected and prosperous region.
APEC Summit: Emphasis on Trade, Climate Change, and Infrastructure
On November 15-17, 2022, Minister Balakrishnan attended the APEC Economic Leadership Meeting (AELM) in Los Angeles. This high-level gathering brought together senior leaders from the world’s largest economies to address pressing global challenges such as trade, climate change, and infrastructure development.
Minister Balakrishnan emphasized Singapore’s strong commitment to promoting free and open trade within the APEC region, as well as strengthening regional cooperation on issues related to climate change, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction. He also stressed the importance of investing in quality infrastructure that can support economic growth and enhance connectivity.
Conclusion
Through its engagement with ASEAN and APEC, Singapore is playing an active role in promoting regional cooperation and addressing global challenges. Minister Balakrishnan’s strong leadership has reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening ties with our neighbors and like-minded countries in Southeast Asia and beyond.
In the face of an increasingly interconnected world, it is more important than ever for us to work together to build a more prosperous and secure region. We look forward to continuing our close engagement with ASEAN and APEC to promote peace, stability, and sustainable growth in our region.