Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore aims to explore ways to boost cooperation between both regions in various sectors
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenKolette LimPublished: 10:06pm, 2 Sep 2026Singapore is positioning itself as a bridge between Central Asia and Asean, as both regions increasingly look to each other amid growing disruption to global trade and intensifying superpower rivalry.The political appetite exists, but analysts say trade benefits will still hinge on overcoming obstacles such as geography and a lack of connectivity.
“Singapore has long been a gateway to Southeast Asia, a region of more than 700 million people and one of the fastest-growing parts of the world,” he told the Uzbekistan parliament on Monday.
“We strive for a Southeast Asia which is linked to many countries and regions, where many partners can participate in and benefit from Southeast Asia’s stability and success, and Central Asia fits well into this vision.”
