By Anas Hassan
SINGAPORE: Singapore will continue working closely with ASEAN member states to implement relevant agreements and mechanisms to strengthen energy and food security, as well as mitigate the impact of disruptions amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister, Gan Kim Yong, said on Thursday (April 30) that ASEAN remains firm in its commitment to maintaining open trade and resilient supply chains to ensure unimpeded flows of essential goods.
“Moving forward, ASEAN must act with urgency and turn these commitments into concrete actions,” Gan, who is also Trade and Industry Minister, said in a statement following the Special ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting on Thursday.
The Special AECC is part of a coordinated series of Special ASEAN ministerial meetings convened by the Philippines over recent weeks, providing platforms for ASEAN member states to collectively exchange views on the West Asia situation and its potential impact on the region.
The ministry, in a statement, said the meeting reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to keep trade and supply chains open, including upholding navigational rights and freedoms and refraining from unjustified trade restrictions.
“In this regard, they called for the swift ratification and early entry into force of the Upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) within the year where possible,” it said.
The meeting also agreed to strengthen energy security through measures such as diversifying energy sources and accelerating renewable energy development.
They also emphasised the need to expedite the ratification and operationalisation of existing frameworks such as the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA), which will include emergency response mechanisms to facilitate coordination and communication during sudden supply disruptions. – BERNAMA
