VIENTIANE: Countries in Southeast Asia need to grow but they must do so “with less emissions than before”, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday (Oct 9) at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Vientiane.
“To meet our emissions target, we will need to transition faster to low carbon and renewable energy solutions,” Mr Wong told fellow leaders.
“It is not easy for us to do this as individual countries, but as a group, as ASEAN, we can move much faster.”
He called for clear regulatory and commercial frameworks for cross-border energy trade in order to achieve the planned ASEAN power grid - an initiative to help the bloc meet its sustainable goals.
As ASEAN works towards creating a framework for subsea power cable development by the end of this year, it can take reference from the existing regional one for fibre-optic cables which is already in place, noted Mr Wong.
The bloc should also leverage interest from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other external partners, to bring in financing for the regional power grid, which he called a “critical project”.
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Singapore doubles renewable electricity imports through regional power project, with added supply from Malaysia THE DIGITAL ECONOMYMr Wong also spoke about the huge potential for the ASEAN digital market, adding that it will be an important enabler for small and medium enterprises.
This potential can be unlocked with the conclusion of an ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement by next year, he said.
“We should harness new digital technologies to push the frontiers but we also need to manage the risks of new technologies,” noted Mr Wong.
He said the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics will facilitate the development of artificial intelligence models across Southeast Asia in a safe and trusted manner, and can be used to shape global norms.
Mr Wong also called for the strengthening of regional cybersecurity, as it is a critical enabler of the digital space.
Moving quickly in new areas like the digital and green economies will help deliver better lives for people within ASEANfatpanda casino, and help the bloc remain relevant to its external partners, said Mr Wong.
Southeast Asian leaders at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos on Oct 9, 2024. (Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Information)