Expert Talk at BFA 2026 | Former Deputy PM of Singapore on regional cooperation multilateralism

During the Boao Forum for Asia 2026, the Former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore shared insights on fostering cooperation and regional integration.

"It's important to find common ground—areas of mutual interest where countries can come together," he said. "When we start with cooperation, we gradually understand each other's positions and can adjust our own policies to accommodate others."

He cited ASEAN as an example of how regional cooperation can be built over time. The organization has grown from five to eleven countries and now serves as a platform for connecting with other regions and partners through frameworks such as ASEAN+3.