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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged ASEAN's Parliamentarians to enlist public support for closer ASEAN integration.
Opening the 29th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly's (AIPA) meeting in Singapore on Wednesday, Mr Lee said that as intermediaries between the political leadership and the people, they occupy a unique position.
Through their close interactions with government, and through forums like AIPA, the Prime Minister said that ASEAN's Parliamentarians are well-placed to understand the compelling rationale for ASEAN integration.
He said: "With your ears and eyes close to the ground, you are prime candidates to explain to the man-in-the-street the need for economic and political inter-connection among ASEAN countries."
One subject that is expected to dominate discussions during the ASEAN Parliamentarians' meeting is the speedy ratification of the ASEAN Charter in time for the next ASEAN summit.
ASEAN Parliamentarians said that would signal to the international community ASEAN's seriousness in wanting to become a rules-based organisation.
Mr Lee also said although ASEAN has enjoyed a favourable external environment these past few years, the future stability cannot be taken for granted.
He warned that the US economy is still facing serious problems from the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Another unknown is the prospects for the global trading system after the failure of the latest Doha Round of talks in Geneva.
Within some ASEAN countries, urgent domestic economic and political issues loomed large, and made it hard for governments to focus on building ASEAN cooperation.
Mr Lee said this made it even more necessary for Parliamentarians to set the tone in ASEAN cooperation, to lead and manage domestic sentiments and stand firm against xenophobic attitudes.
If the grouping succeeds, then ASEAN's international relevance and strategic weight would be enhanced and this would make a big difference to continued growth and stability in the region in the years ahead.
- CNA/yb
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