STABLE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT NECESSARY FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS: DR NG

With increasing global interdependence, "economic integration does not exist and cannot progress without stability and security," said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. "Stable and inclusive geopolitics and regional security are necessary pre-conditions for trade and investments."

Dr Ng was speaking yesterday at a plenary session on the topic of "Asia-Pacific Security Trends: Opportunities and Challenges". This was at the sixth Xiangshan Forum, a high-level security forum held in Beijing, China, from 17 to 18 Oct.

Addressing a crowd of international delegates and media, Dr Ng noted that the post-World War II and post-Cold War era was marked by an unprecedented increase in connectivity and global interdependence. This led to increased trade flows with and within Asia, with about 60 to 70 per cent of the over US$400 billion worth of foreign investments flowing into Asia today coming from other Asian countries.

Economic progress, however, requires a stable and secure regional environment, and collaboration based on clear, inclusive and fair rules is needed to establish regional stability, he added.

Citing cyber-crime, terrorism, piracy and natural disasters as examples of cross-boundary security challenges that all countries face, Dr Ng stressed that open and mutual cooperation between militaries was essential to build a security structure that can promote regional progress.

He said: Effective cooperation on security issues with other countries and nationalistic sentiments are not mutually exclusive. Neither should we let disputes on territories or resources obstruct our goal to build a stable and inclusive security architecture.

"The stakes are too high, if we should fail to create a stable security environment that is conducive for future progress and prosperity."

As part of his visit to China, Dr Ng also attended the ASEAN-China Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting on 16 Oct. In his address, Dr Ng emphasised the need for ASEAN and China to work together to maintain peace and stability in the region. He added that as the coordinator of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Singapore would continue to do its part in deepening the trust between ASEAN and China.

The defence ministers also discussed regional security issues such as counter-terrorism and transnational crimes, and noted the need for greater cooperation and communication to address these challenges.