Wong pushes ASEAN digital payments, energy security at Manila summit
What's new: He pointed to the newly signed digital pact, projected to lift ASEAN's digital economy to US$2 trillion by 2030.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong urged ASEAN leaders in Manila on Sunday to speed up digital integration, bolster energy resilience and widen the bloc’s external partnerships as global volatility persists. Speaking at the 49th ASEAN Summit, Wong said member states should make cross-border payments more seamless, strengthen coordination against cyber threats and online scams, and move to ratify the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement. He pointed to the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, signed a day earlier after three years of talks, as evidence of deeper regional integration. The accord is expected to help expand ASEAN’s digital economy to US$2 trillion by 2030. Wong also said Singapore, which will chair ASEAN next, would build on initiatives advanced under the Philippines’ leadership.