ASEAN growing closer to China and India, Singapore PM says

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warns of threats to regional economic growth, citing recent trade tensions between the US and China.

ASEAN leaders take a group photo ahead of the opening ceremony of the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on April 28, 2018.
Reuters

ASEAN leaders take a group photo ahead of the opening ceremony of the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on April 28, 2018.

Southeast Asian countries will work more closely with new powers China and India to counter the pressure of protectionism and ensure continued growth, Singapore prime minister said on Saturday.

Addressing the summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed the recent rapprochement between North and South Korea, describing Friday's meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas as "positive." 

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In addition to Singapore, the ASEAN members are Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.

ASEAN leaders are also expected to discuss free trade and Myanmar's refugee crisis.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that regional economic growth was under threat because the political mood in many countries had turned against free trade. He said recent trade tensions between the US and China in particular are worrying.

The US and China are entangled in their most consequential trade dispute since World War II. Both countries have proposed tariffs of $50 billion on each other's products; President Donald Trump is looking to impose tariffs of up to $100 billion more on Chinese goods.

"The global strategic balance is shifting, and so is the regional balance," Lee said. "New powers, including China and India, are growing in strength and influence. This has opened up new opportunities for ASEAN member states as we expand our cooperation with them."

He said that the group faces challenges closer to home as well, such as the Daesh, cybersecurity and strengthening a regional economic community.

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