SYDNEY: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore and Australia can prosper, if they work together against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging world.
Addressing business leaders in Sydney, Mr Lee also spoke about the growing influence of China and how Australia can play a part in ensuring a peaceful shift in the global power balance.
At Asia Society Australia, Mr Lee said it is increasingly difficult for governments to look 10 or 20 years into the future.
This
is due to globalisation and technology, which have brought about rapid
change, and many countries are experiencing are social stresses over job
security and a widening income gap.
Mr Lee felt Asia is well-placed - thanks to China's growing influence.
He
said a new balance will have to be struck with China's growth, not
based on exclusive spheres of influence, but an open regional order
where all major powers can participate peacefully and constructively.
Asian countries would then be able to live and grow in an orderly and secure environment.
Mr
Lee said: "I do have confidence that over the medium to long term,
China's trajectory will be upwards because the dynamism, the drive, the
determination to improve their lives and to create that affluence and
better future is palpable and pervades the whole society and I'm
convinced that China's success will be positive for the region and for
the world. But managing this strategic shift is going to be a critical
challenge for the international system. It's a major change and it's
taking place not so slowly and will need restraint and wisdom, both from
China as well as other countries, especially the US."
According
to Mr Lee, as China's largest trading partner and a treaty ally of the
US, Australia can help ensure that this shift in strategic balance
occurs peacefully.
Mr Lee also called on Australia to deepen its
engagement with the rest of Asia, in spite of the challenges and risks
involved, such as territorial disputes.
He said: "ASEAN
integration is a work in progress, requiring patience and political will
and we have territorial disputes too, in the South China Sea and also
in North East Asia, between China and Japan, between Korea and Japan,
between China and some of the ASEAN countries. These disputes are
sharpened by prospect of oil and gas deposits, but also made more
difficult by rising nationalist sentiments, at a politically sensitive
time. But overall outlook for Asia is positive."
At a dialogue
session later in the day, when asked about Singapore's experience with
its two integrated resorts, given that Australians in Sydney are
debating the merits of a second casino, Mr Lee said concerns about its
impact on society remain, although there have been obvious benefits.
"Having
crossed the rubicon, it's not hard for us to say, you know if we are
going to have one, you might as well have two," commented Mr Lee.
"There
is no further issue of principle and from the point of business, it's
quite good to have two in fact, the casinos are happy because then if
you don't have as much luck as you wish in one place, you go to the
other place."
"They came up at a good time, after the financial
crisis. Business-wise, they've done very well; revenue-wise, the
government has gained," said Mr Lee.
"There's some offset
because our horse racing isn't as exciting as it used to be, people have
gone to gamble in casinos instead but overall government revenue has
gone up."
"From an urban planning point of view, it's done a lot
for our skyline, the Marina Bay Sands with the three towers as well as
the sky pool is recognised all over the world, I think. That's a great
plus. It's helped our image enormously."
About a quarter of visitors to Singapore's two integrated resorts are locals.
"So
we are quite happy but we are still watching anxiously," commented Mr
Lee. "Because total amount of gambling is about the same but the
compulsive gambling, the very extreme cases, there seems to be a slight
trend up and we are hoping that things will stabilise, but it will take
time."
When asked about how Singapore was tackling brain-drain,
Mr Lee felt it was natural in the course of globalisation as talents
will go where there is vibrancy and confidence in the future.
Mr Lee also mentioned the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings in his speech.
He
said Indonesia has made progress in identifying, tracking down,
bringing to justice and punishing some of the terrorists, making
Indonesia and the region safer.
But he warned that the terror threat still remains.
"It
never completely disappears, (there are) splinter groups, radicalised
elements, self-radicalised individuals, people with crazy ideas," he
said. "There are always a few of them but it is enough to cause
trouble."
Mr Lee wrapped up his visit to Australia,
underscoring the strong relations between the people of both countries.
There are some 50,000 Singaporeans living in Australia and about 20,000
Australians in Singapore.
- CNA/xq
Originally posted by QX179R:
Mr Lee wrapped up his visit to Australia, underscoring the strong relations between the people of both countries. There are some 50,000 Singaporeans living in Australia and about 20,000 Australians in Singapore.
- CNA/xq
eh? considering our differences in population sizes..... we have so much more over there?