Singapore calls for strengthened ASEAN-centred regional architecture

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Vietnam’s master plan on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community 2025 updated
	ASEAN worries about rise in violations against children: Vietnamese diplomat

Speaking at the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore on August 2, the Singaporean PM reiterated that the architecture has contributed to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the opening ceremony of the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore on August 2. (Photo: Reuters)

He said that it is important that ASEAN continues to support multilateral system and join hands with like-minded partners to strengthen its cooperation network.

Lee noted that trade tensions between the US and ASEAN's other dialogue partners have escalated, and the rule-based multilateral trading system, which has underpinned ASEAN's growth and prosperity, is under pressure.

ASEAN member countries need to stay committed to trade liberalisation and economic integration, he added.

Lee also lauded efforts of ASEAN countries to conclude negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The RCEP, comprising 10 ASEAN members and its six free trade agreement partners, namely China, Australia, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, will be the world's largest trading bloc that covers nearly half of global population and 30 percent of the world's current annual gross domestic product.

ASEAN, China agree on ‘single draft’ for COC negotiations The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have agreed on a “single draft” negotiating text of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the ...

51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting opens in Singapore The 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-51) officially opened in Singapore on August 2, with the participation of foreign ministers from the 10 member countries.

Vietnam attends SEANWFZ, AICHR meetings in Singapore A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung has attended the Executive Committee of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty ...