Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also spoke about an increasingly turbulent global environment, and says the test of ASEAN's unity lies in how it deals with internal challenges like the Myanmar conflict.
The bloc should also leverage interest from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other external partners, to bring in financing for the regional power grid, which he called a “critical project”. He said the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics will facilitate the development of artificial intelligence models across Southeast Asia in a safe and trusted manner, and can be used to shape global norms.
“There are wars in Europe and the Middle East. There is growing mistrust and suspicion between America and China. And more and more countries are prioritising national security over economic efficiency and free trade,” he said.Closer to the region, the South China Sea is a “live and immediate issue, with real risks of an accident spiralling into conflict”, said Mr Wong.
Noting that the conflict is really a domestic situation, he said: “We have to be realistic about what ASEAN can do, and at the same time, patient and steadfast in pursuing efforts towards peaceful resolution.” He said the bloc needs to ensure continued peace and stability in the region, by continuing to keep the architecture of the region open and inclusive and to engage all external parties.