6 days ago
Singapore vows to support PH chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong vowed to support the Philippines in its ASEAN chairmanship next year.
Wong made the commitment during the joint press conference with President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace as part of his two-day official visit to the Philippines.
The prime minister said that Singapore and the Philippines share a common interest in preserving ASEAN centrality and unity.
''This will be critical in accelerating the integration of the region and enabling us to unlock the full potential of ASEAN. It will also enable ASEAN to better engage our external partners, like the GCC countries or the EU,'' Wong said.
''The Philippines can count on Singapore's full support for its ASEAN chairmanship next year. And we will coordinate closely because Singapore takes over from the Philippines the ASEAN chairmanship the following year. So, we will work shoulder to shoulder, side by side,'' he added.
Wong said he also looks forward to partnering with Marcos in advancing the next phase of bilateral relations.
''I am confident that under his leadership, the Singapore-Philippine relations will continue to grow from strength to strength,'' Wong said, adding that the ties between the two nations have never been better.
''It is a partnership that has been carefully nurtured over the decades by successive generations of leaders and officials. It is built on a high degree of mutual trust and respect, and it has enabled mutually beneficial cooperation over a wide range of areas,'' he said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
