Singapore is positioning itself as a potential economic and connectivity bridge between ASEAN and Central Asia, as both regions seek new trade partnerships and greater resilience amid disruptions to global commerce and intensifying geopolitical competition. The initiative gained momentum following Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Read more…
Japan and ASEAN are being encouraged to deepen cooperation in economic resilience, regional security and strategic autonomy as intensifying competition between the United States and China creates new challenges across the Indo-Pacific. In a recent commentary published by Asia News Network, Kin Phea, Director-General of the International Relations Institute of Read more…
Malaysia is being urged to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption across businesses, SMEs and the wider workforce as neighbouring ASEAN economies move rapidly to integrate AI into everyday commercial operations. In a Merdeka Day commentary published by Malay Mail, Professor Dr Phar Kim Beng, Professor of ASEAN Studies at the International Read more…
Malaysia has called on ASEAN countries to strengthen the recognition of workforce skills and qualifications across borders, as the region prepares its labour force for rapidly changing industries driven by artificial intelligence, advanced mobility, robotics and other emerging technologies. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said Malaysia is advocating Read more…
The World Health Organization (WHO) and ASEAN have put Southeast Asia’s food safety emergency systems through a major regional test, bringing together all 11 ASEAN Member States to assess how effectively countries could detect, coordinate and respond if contaminated food were distributed across national borders. Held in Jakarta from 7 Read more…
As competition between the United States and China over artificial intelligence intensifies, ASEAN faces a critical strategic challenge: ensuring that Southeast Asia becomes more than a host for global AI infrastructure and develops sufficient technological capabilities to maintain control over its own digital future. In an analysis published by the Read more…
Singapore has pledged to strengthen ASEAN centrality and unity, deepen regional economic integration and help transform Southeast Asia into a more effective single market as the republic prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027. Speaking during Singapore’s National Day Rally 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the country would Read more…
Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN unity and centrality, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation, international law and peaceful diplomacy in maintaining stability in the South China Sea amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. The commitment was made during the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Malaysian Read more…
Worsening transboundary haze has forced the temporary closure of 591 schools across 10 districts in Sarawak, affecting nearly 200,000 students, as air pollution in parts of the state reached “very unhealthy” levels and renewed concerns over Southeast Asia’s recurring haze challenge. The closures involved 509 primary schools and 82 secondary Read more…
The disruption of global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz has renewed calls for ASEAN to establish a practical and enforceable regional petroleum reserve, as Southeast Asia confronts the risks of relying heavily on external energy supplies during periods of geopolitical instability. In an analysis by energy specialist Jamil Read more…
