Resilience, innovation – focus of Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2018
Singapore
will focus on the themes of “resilience” and “innovation” when it takes the
rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in
2018.
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Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte (L) hands over the gavel to Singaporean
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a transfer of Asean Chairmanship at the
closing ceremonies of the 31st Asean Summit and Related Summits in
Manila on November 14 - Photo: Xinhua/VNA
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Singaporean Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong told the media about the theme on November 15 after receiving
the ASEAN chairmanship handed over by the Philippines at the closing ceremony
of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila.
With this theme, ASEAN will
strengthen solidarity, improve the capability of flexibly coping with
challenges posed by the digital revolution, seize opportunities, and equip
citizens with necessary skills to work towards a resilient and creative ASEAN.
The theme will also help
ASEAN remain a central and dynamic driving force that can deal with challenges
and opportunities amid the rapidly changing world.
PM Lee said in the face of
some non-traditional security issues, terrorism and cyber security problems
jeopardizing the region’s security, ASEAN countries need to grasp the themes of
resilience and innovation to respond to challenges.
He stressed that the
countries’ coordination to devise measures for coping with challenges will
prove ASEAN a valuable and effective organisation.
Source:
VNA