Singapore: Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (October 28) that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can use India’s “vibrant” technology and start-ups to further promote financial and trade initiatives.
At the virtual 18th ASEAN-India Summit, Mr. Lee pointed out that there is room for cooperation in this area.
“There is a lot of room for cooperation in creating an interoperable digital financial system, with the focus on providing inclusiveness for our local communities and expanding opportunities for our businesses,” he said.
In terms of public health cooperation including vaccine supply and distribution, Mr. Lee pointed out that India plays a “key role” in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
“As an aviation and transshipment center with strong cold chain capabilities, Singapore can support India in becoming an effective vaccine transshipment point in Southeast Asia and other regions,” he added.
Singapore is currently the national coordinator of the ASEAN-India dialogue relationship.
Noting that ASEAN and India enjoy “multi-faceted cooperation” on all pillars of ASEAN, Mr. Lee emphasized that they can do more together.
He added that the two sides should advance “key areas of cooperation”, one of which is to jointly address climate change and environmental issues.
Mr. Lee said that early next year, Singapore and India will jointly hold two seminars on combating marine pollution and illegal, unreported and unlicensed fishing under the framework of the East Asia Summit.
In addition, the two sides are also exploring long-term cooperation in areas such as cross-border smog management, waste management and circular economy,” he added.
Mr. Lee said: “I believe we will jointly find new and innovative ways to further deepen our strategic partnership.”
