S'pore, Japan partnership can strengthen Asean ties amid global shifts: Experts

They can deepen collaboration in trade, climate and digital economy: Forum panel

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - In an increasingly fractured world, Japan and Singapore are invested in working closely together to protect the existing global order and write new rules, a bilateral symposium heard on March 15.

Such efforts will ultimately be to the benefit of Asean and the wider region, panellists told the 17th Japan-Singapore Symposium, citing collaboration in areas such as trade, climate, ageing and the digital economy.

Japan and Singapore take turns to host the annual event, with the 2024 Tokyo event themed "JapanSingapore Partnership in Regional Architecture". Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann delivered a keynote speech.

The two countries, said Dr Tomoo Kikuchi of Waseda University's Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, have the necessary capital, technology and institutional capacities to play a leading role in the region.

"Japan and Singapore working together is the best insurance against global turbulence in the coming decades," he said.

Speakers noted the world was turning more insular and, while the extent of protectionism measures may vary, the long-term trajectory of the unfurling big power rivalry between the United States and China will not change course regardless of who wins the US presidential election in November.