ADDENDA, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: MR GEORGE YEO YONG-BOON

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The global situation is changing dramatically. Some countries will respond better than others to the global economic crisis. When the world recovers, we are likely to see a more clearly defined multi-polar world with a significant shift of power from the West to the East. The US will no longer be the sole superpower but will remain the leading power in the world for the foreseeable future. Singapore must adjust to an evolving new configuration.

Singapore' s foreign policy priorities

The strategic importance of ASEAN to Singapore will however remain unchanged. With the re-emergence of China and India on the global stage, we need a strong ASEAN to keep the peace in our region, enhance our competitiveness, create more opportunities for development and manage big power rivalry. The ASEAN Charter and the three Community Blueprints (political/security, economic and social/cultural) will help us establish an ASEAN Community by 2015. As an ardent supporter of ASEAN, we will work with the other member countries to achieve this goal. With ASEAN at the core, we will strengthen our relations to all the major powers through ASEAN's dialogue partnerships, ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN-Mercosur (a trade grouping comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), ASEAN-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Good relations with our closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are essential. We will continue to strengthen bilateral relations comprehensively on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect. We will pay particular attention to cooperation in Iskander Malaysia and the Free Trade Zones in Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

APEC is the premier regional organisation bringing economies on the two sides of the Pacific Ocean together especially the US and China. Singapore will work hard to discharge its responsibility as the Chair of APEC this year which is also APEC's 20th anniversary. We will host the APEC Leaders Summit this November. Our key objective is to work with the other members to promote economic cooperation and resist protectionism in the face of the global economic downturn.

Singapore will push for even better relations with the US, Japan, the European Union and other developed countries which are important sources of knowledge and investment

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for us. We will also develop further our links to China, India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America which provide new and growing opportunities. Through bilateral and regional FTAs, we will help to create more and better jobs for Singaporeans. As an economy which is completely dependent on the global trading system, we have a strong interest in seeing the Doha Development Agenda concluded early. We also have an abiding interest in the reform of global institutions including the UN, IMF and the World Bank. We support better international financial regulation and a global bargain on climate change.

Singapore will continue to provide technical assistance to developing countries helping them develop capabilities in areas like urban planning and development, port management, information technology, health and macroeconomic management. As a responsible global citizen, Singapore is committed to assisting developing countries in human resource development, sustainable development and the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Supporting Singaporeans abroad

MFA will continue to provide prompt and effective consular assistance to Singaporeans in distress overseas, as we did, for example, during Cyclone Nargis, the Sichuan earthquake, the airport shutdown in Bangkok, and the Mumbai hostage crisis. As more Singaporeans travel abroad, we expect the number seeking assistance overseas to increase. MFA is expanding our capabilities, adopting a whole-of-Government approach.

We will have to be alert to stay ahead in a fast-changing environment. While there are new opportunities to seize, there are also new dangers to avoid. If we position ourselves well, once we get through the current economic crisis, Singaporeans will benefit greatly from the rise of Asia in this century. To achieve this, we need peace in the region and as many friends as possible in the world.