US remains vital to continued peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, says PM Wong

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States remains vital to the “continued peace, stability and prosperity” of the world and Southeast Asia, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Oct 26) at a meeting held on day one of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking at the 13th ASEAN-US Summit where he welcomed United States President Donald Trump back to the region, Mr Wong noted that Mr Trump has “continued to demonstrate leadership and commitment to global efforts for peace and engagement”.

This includes his role in securing a ceasefire plan for Gaza, de-escalating border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, and his “personal attention to combating transnational crime, online scams and drugs”.

Thailand and Cambodia had been locked in a border dispute, with tensions escalating in July into their deadliest military clashes in decades, killing more than 40 people and forcing around 300,000 to flee their homes.

The two sides agreed to a ceasefire - brokered in part by Trump - after five days of fighting, and have since repeatedly traded accusations of truce violations.

Earlier on Sunday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to cease all hostilities at the disputed border area and release captured soldiers, as part of an agreement inked on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. 

Mr Trump presided over the signing of the agreement by Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet. The deal was also witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the bloc’s rotating chair.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TIES

Describing the relationship between ASEAN and the US as “mutually beneficial”, Mr Wong noted how stability and security not only create the conditions for ASEAN to grow, but for America and its companies to benefit from being in Southeast Asia as well.

US investment and trade links with the region have supported more than 600,000 “good American jobs”, he said. ASEAN, with a combined population of nearly 700 million, is also a growing market for American goods and services, he added.

“Our region buys US exports from all 50 states in America - from corn to Boeing planes to some of the best military equipment in the world,” said the Singapore prime minister.

“In short, the ASEAN-US relationship is mutually beneficial and it has made our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

More can be done together, said Mr Wong. For example, even as ASEAN continues on its digital transformation journey, there will be opportunities for American companies to grow their software and digital systems, especially when many of these companies already have a well-established presence and strong reputations.

Beyond the digital economy, opportunities also lie in helping ASEAN to grow its energy security as the bloc develops its energy infrastructure, including a cross-region power grid.

Towards the end of his speech, Mr Wong noted that Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse regions in the world, and one that has historically been geographically fragmented and unstable.

“But it was Americans’ actions, sacrifices, and efforts that contributed to Southeast Asia’s peace and stability. We will never forget these sacrifices,” he said.

“It is America’s continued actions and leadership that will enable Southeast Asia to thrive. So, we look forward to working closely with you, Mr President, to take our region forward, to strengthen our partnership.” 

ASEAN-US relations will mark its 50th year in 2027 when Singapore takes over the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, said Mr Wong, adding that he hopes to welcome Mr Trump back in Singapore and the region.

Mr Trump was last in Singapore in 2018, during his first term of presidency, for a historic meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Mr Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN summit will be the first time a US president has visited Malaysia in a decade, the last being Barack Obama in 2015.  

He had attended the 2017 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines during his first term in office but skipped subsequent gatherings.

The US President arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Bunga Raya terminal at around 10am on Sunday morning, where he was welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar at the tarmac in a pomp ceremony with music and dancers.

Mr Wong on Sunday also attended two other ASEAN meetings with external partners – Japan and India.

The 28th ASEAN-Japan summit was attended by Japan’s newly sworn-in Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit virtually.

On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister had bilateral meetings with the leaders of Brazil, South Africa and the European Council.

In a social media post, Mr Wong said he was happy to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after last meeting him at the Group of 20 summit in Rio last year.

Brazil is Singapore’s largest Latin American trading partner and a key partner in food security, the prime minister wrote.

“We look forward to working closely on climate action, carbon markets (and) sustainable fuels ahead of COP-30 in Belém in Nov 25,” he added, referring to the United Nations Climate Change Conferences scheduled for November in Brazil.

Mr Wong said he had a good discussion with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, noting that they discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and innovation, as well as strengthening ASEAN–Africa links.

He also thanked Mr Ramaphosa for the invitation to the G-20 Summit happening in Johannesburg next month.

With President Antonio Costa of the European Council, the meeting touched on ways to deepen cooperation between Singapore, the European Union (EU) and the wider region, especially in trade and the digital economy.

“Singapore and the EU are like-minded partners with shared values and a strong commitment to a rules-based multilateral order. There’s much we can work together on in this evolving global landscape,” Mr Wong said.

TIMOR LESTE AS NEW ASEAN MEMBER

Another milestone at the summit, to be held for three days at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre beside the Petronas Twin Towers, is the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member.

Timor-Leste’s formal inclusion marks the end of a 14-year process since its initial application to join the bloc. This is also ASEAN’s first expansion since 1999.

In a Facebook post, Mr Wong said Timor-Leste’s membership is the “result of years of patient engagement and thoughtful deliberation”.

“While there is much work ahead, Singapore will do our part to support Timor-Leste’s integration, so that we can all benefit from a stronger, more united ASEAN.”

Noting that the bloc’s focus has turned to strengthening unity and resilience, there were discussions on “practical ways” to do so. These include expanding intra-ASEAN trade and tapping new opportunities in the digital and green economies, he said.

A key step will be the upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), he added.

ATIGA is aimed at achieving a free flow of goods between ASEAN member states, resulting in lower business costs, increased trade, and a larger market and economies of scale for businesses.

The grouping’s cooperation also extends to security, wrote Mr Wong, noting that ASEAN remains committed to strengthening its collective fight against transnational crime, particularly online scams.

“With the inclusion of Timor-Leste and our commitment to deeper integration, ASEAN is sending a clear signal - we are united and determined to build a more prosperous and secure future for all our people.”