Call for Asean to push on with integration

In a keynote speech at The Business Times' Leaders Forum at the Shangri-La Hotel, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said Asean was at an inflexion point. ST PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing yesterday called on Asean to push ahead with open regionalism and integration.

He said all 10 members of the grouping needed to come together to make a strong statement for a free, open, rules-based and interdependent system.

In a keynote speech at The Business Times' Leaders Forum at the Shangri-La Hotel, he said Asean was at an inflexion point, as the open and rules-based multilateral trading system, regional integration and economic cooperation were coming under mounting pressure.

He warned that trade frictions between major economic players would lead to spillover effects in the region.

RELATED ARTICLES

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 22, 2018, with the headline Call for Asean to push on with integration. Subscribe