Impact from US and India's Upgraded Ties with ASEAN
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the economic impact and specific collaboration areas following the upgrading of ASEAN’s ties with India and the United States to Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships, as raised by Mr Desmond Choo. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan explained that these partnerships enhance regional stability and involve reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement to facilitate easier trade and investment flows. Cooperation with the United States will focus on new infrastructure initiatives for electric vehicles, smart cities, and public health through the ASEAN-US Health Futures Initiative. For Singapore specifically, collaboration with India will deepen in regional connectivity, cybersecurity, and the digital economy to benefit local businesses and citizens. Regarding the United States, Singapore seeks to support ASEAN’s clean energy transition, improve energy security, and implement low-carbon energy solutions and green infrastructure.
Transcript
14 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs with the United States and India upgrading ties with ASEAN to comprehensive strategic partnerships level (a) what is the expected economic impact for Singapore; and (b) what are the specific areas of deepened collaboration expected between Singapore and the two countries respectively.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The establishment of the ASEAN-India and the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships (CSPs) were sought by both Dialogue Partners and will build on their longstanding and multi-faceted relations with ASEAN to deliver more meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation. Singapore welcomed both CSPs, especially the contributions by both India and the US towards an open, inclusive, peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
Singapore and ASEAN will benefit economically from the CSPs. With India, ASEAN will commence reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple and trade-facilitative to facilitate stronger trade and investment flows. With the US, ASEAN will benefit from new initiatives, such as the ASEAN-US Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Initiative and the ASEAN-US Platform for Infrastructure and Connectivity. ASEAN and the US will further cooperation in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network and strengthen ASEAN's public health infrastructure through the ASEAN-US Health Futures Initiative.
Through these CSPs, Singapore can deepen collaboration with India in important areas, such as regional connectivity, cybersecurity and the digital economy to benefit our businesses and people. For the US, we hope to work together to support ASEAN's clean energy transition, strengthen the region's energy security and grid resilience, and establish low-carbon energy solutions and green energy infrastructure.