The world is undergoing profound changes and trust deficits are widening, he says
[KUALA LUMPUR] The East Asia Summit (EAS) must be more than a platform for “talk shop”, and should instead translate words into action if it is to stay true to the purpose of its formation, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the 20th edition of the forum on Monday (Oct 27).
Established two decades ago, it was meant to be a forum to “strengthen global norms and universally recognised values”, and to promote “peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia”, he said at the event held during the 47th Asean Summit in Malaysia’s capital.
The EAS comprises Asean members, as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US – representing around 53 per cent of the world’s population and about 60 per cent of global gross domestic product.
Since the first EAS meeting in Kuala Lumpur, PM Wong said the region has enjoyed relative peace and stability, which have fostered collaboration and enabled growth.
But he added that, as the world undergoes profound change, widening trust deficits are increasing the risk of miscalculation and hindering cooperation on issues related to the global commons. Global commons are those parts of the planet outside national jurisdictions and to which all nations have access. International law identifies four global commons – the high seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica and outer space.
Still, PM Wong said he believes that the EAS can deliver what it had set out to achieve if it focuses on two areas.
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One area is turning discussions into practical outcomes. He cited the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which is providing a framework for tangible cooperation between Asean and its partners.
The AOIP has four priority areas: maritime cooperation, connectivity, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and economic and other possible areas of cooperation.
PM Wong said useful recommendations have emerged as a result, in areas ranging from mental health to maritime cooperation and submarine cables.
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To that end, he urged members to develop practical initiatives in these priority areas, and said that when two or more members agree to collaborate on such projects, the other members of the EAS should lend their support.
But beyond the tangible benefits, PM Wong said such initiatives help “foster habits of cooperation”, giving everyone a stake in the region’s success.
The second area of focus he recommended was the finding of common ground among members.
He said that while countries may hold differing views, the EAS provides a platform to discuss shared concerns – a process essential for building trust.
“(This) allows us to accept our differences on some issues, while reaching consensus and working together on other shared priorities,” he said. Such trust helps the forum avoid paralysis, he added, and enables members to work together on practical areas such as disaster management and combating scams.
Separately, PM Wong met his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul on the sidelines of the Asean summit, where he conveyed his condolences on the passing of former queen Sirikit.
The leaders also discussed the potential for both countries to do more together and continue being partners in new and emerging sectors, with PM Wong adding that he was looking forward to continuing his discussions with Anutin during his introductory visit to Singapore.
