Singapore PM Stresses Crucial Role of ASEAN Centrality

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has underscored the importance of ASEAN’s role as a centre of regional stability amid evolving global and regional dynamics. He made the remarks following a Leaders’ Retreat with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday. Wong said the two leaders discussed various global issues, including developments in the Middle East and their implications for the region, particularly concerning the strategic shipping lanes of the Malacca Strait. He stressed that Indonesia and Singapore have aligned interests as countries bordering the Malacca and Singapore Straits. Both nations, he said, bear a shared responsibility to maintain the openness and security of international sea lanes. “We agreed on the importance of ASEAN and ASEAN centrality. Next year, as Singapore prepares to chair ASEAN, we will continue to coordinate and consult closely with Indonesia in shaping our chairmanship agenda,” Wong stated. The discussions also emphasised the importance of upholding freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Wong noted that this principle serves as the foundation for efforts to maintain the stability of global trade routes. He added that Indonesia and Singapore will continue to work with other littoral states to ensure the Malacca and Singapore Straits remain safe, open, and accessible to all parties. Wong assessed that the bilateral relationship is built on a very strong level of trust, with a long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation orientation. He remarked that the Indonesia-Singapore partnership has great potential to create more opportunities than either country could achieve alone.