Singapore: China and India are the new powers which are growing in strength and influence as the global strategic balance is shifting which has thrown up new opportunities for cooperation for ASEAN, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday. Lee was speaking while welcoming regional leaders at the 32nd ASEAN summit here. “The global strategic balance is shifting, and so is the regional balance,” he said adding “New powers, including China and India, are growing in strength and influence. This has opened up new opportunities for ASEAN member states as we expand our cooperation with them”.
“If ASEAN members can cooperate in this effort, we will strengthen our economic community,” said Lee who leads the summit with Singapore being the chair of the grouping. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. The summit is being held from April 25-28.