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SINGAPORE: Despite severe challenges last year during Thailand's chairmanship, ASEAN has held itself together and continued to make progress, although not as much as Singapore would have hoped for.
Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo gave this assessment in Parliament during the debate on the Budget estimates for his ministry.
He pointed to concrete results such as the implementation of the ASEAN Charter - a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with China, and the historic meeting between US President Barack Obama and all ten ASEAN economies in Singapore.
Mr Yeo said "relative peace in the region and the enlargement of our economic space have made possible Singapore's continuing economic development". It is to this end that Singapore actively participates in international forums like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting (APEC) and the G20 process.
Turning to relations with Southeast Asian neighbours, Mr Yeo said ties with Malaysia are "very good". He said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will meet his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak in May to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Mr Yeo is also hopeful of a win-win outcome with regards to the Points of Agreement on railway land, following ongoing talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
Both sides have been discussing further cooperation in Iskandar Malaysia, including Singapore's investment in an iconic project and the possibility of linking the two urban rail systems.
Mr Yeo said: "Support of the Johor ground is a necessary pre-condition. When Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew visited Johor Bahru to pay his final respects to the late Sultan of Johor, the new Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim, expressed clearly his wish for stronger relations between Johor and Singapore. Our new consulate in Johor Bahru is already busy with work."
Relations are also good with Indonesia and Myanmar.
On Myanmar, Mr Yeo stressed the importance of fair and legitimate elections in the country this year.
He said: "This will be a critical year for Myanmar. At long last, elections will be held under a new Constitution that guarantees a continuing strong role for the military in Myanmar's politics.
"We know that there are ongoing discussions between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the generals, and hope that both sides will show flexibility and compromise."
Mr Yeo said if there is no reconciliation and the elections outcome is not seen as legitimate, especially by Myanmar's neighbours, "then ASEAN will have a problem."
Going beyond the region, Mr Yeo said relations with China and US are good. He said despite other preoccupations, the US has made efforts to reengage ASEAN.
With China, Singapore is planning a series of joint commemorative activities this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Mr Yeo said: "Although there are many challenges in the international and regional environment, we can find in them new ways to make a living. This is the new context in which we seek to restructure the Singapore economy.
"We need sensitive antennas to detect new trends and comprehensive responses to threats and opportunities. The mission of the Foreign Ministry is to expand the external political and economic space for Singapore's continuing development."
- CNA/sc
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