Silver lining amid dark clouds as Asean recognises need to deepen unity, says PM Wong

Grouping has taken 'considerable steps forward', including entry of Timor-Leste

- Hariz Baharudin Correspondent

Amid the dark clouds of geopolitical uncertainty, there is a silver lining for Asean — that its leaders recognise more clearly than ever the need to be more integrated and united, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He pointed to what he called "considerable steps forward" for the grouping in the past year, including Asean's historic expansion to include Timor-Leste, and the upgrade of the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), as well as steps to manage the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

These underscore an urgency to make its single market "that much more competitive and attractive to investments", and also to be united.

"There will be issues, there will be differences, but we cannot afford to be divided. We cannot afford to allow disputes to split Asean apart. And I think (it's) good that there is a very strong sense of commitment towards that."

Speaking to reporters after the close of the 47th Asean Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, PM Wong said this renewed sense of shared purpose comes even as major powers jostle and old rules of engagement fade.

The atmosphere in the meetings suggested that there is "continued strong desire" among Asean leaders to accelerate integration and keep Asean united, he said.

When asked what is at stake if Asean is not unified, PM Wong said: "Everything is at stake because we don't know what shape this new equilibrium will be."