Written by Li Min / Translated by Wu Sheng

Resilience and Innovation — this is the theme of the 32ndASEAN Summit and encapsulates the vision for ASEAN development. As the chair of ASEAN in 2018 and the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, Singapore has made great efforts to promote ASEAN’s unity and innovative cooperation. At the 32ndASEAN Summit held in April 2018, leaders from 10 member states of ASEAN reached consensus on a number of issues, including ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), cyber security, and ASEAN community.

The year 2018 is also China-ASEAN Year of Innovation.How does Singapore see China-ASEAN cooperation in innovation? And how does Singapore view the China-ASEAN strategic partnership during the past 15 years?With these questions in mind,China-ASEAN Panoramahad an exclusive interview with Tan Hung Seng,Permanent Representative of Singapore to ASEAN.

China-ASEAN relations most substantive

“The China-ASEAN relationship is among ASEAN’s most substantive dialogue partnerships, and has expanded significantly in both breadth and depth over the years.” In reviewing the achievements of China-ASEAN strategic partnership during the past 15 years, Tan Hung Seng said that China and ASEAN have witnessed a sound and continuous development of economic and trade cooperation,people-to-people ties and strategic partnership. He pointed out that in 2017 alone, China and ASEAN issued four joint statements, declaring the intention to enhance cooperation in diverse areas, such as anti-corruption, environmental protection, tourism cooperation, and infrastructure connectivity.

On the economic front, China and ASEAN are working to fully implement theProtocol to Upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), and continue discussions on the Protocol’s Future Work Programme, following the upgrade of the ACFTA in 2015. “When completed, these will bring even greater benefits through further trade and investment liberalisation. Deepening economic linkages and improving connectivity will bolster efforts to realise the target of US$ 1 trillion in China-ASEAN trade volume by 2020, and Singapore will continue to support ongoing efforts on these fronts, including exploring synergies between ASEAN’s Master Plan on Connectivity and China’s Belt and Road initiative.

According to Tan Hung Seng, China and ASEAN are also intensifying negotiations to achieve a modern,comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficialRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP)agreement. “Singapore will do our best to facilitate the process. We should also work towards the realisation of the China-ASEAN Open Skies,which will play an important role in facilitating and enhancing regional connectivity,” he said.

The situation of South China Sea was relatively calmer over the past year. Tan Hung Seng said that over the past two years, ASEAN Member States and China have undertaken practical measures to build trust and confidence among parties, and prevent miscalculations on the ground. ASEAN and China also commenced negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea this year.“Negotiations will not be easy as the issue remains geopolitically complex, but we believe that there is good faith and goodwill among all parties in this undertaking. Singapore will continue to be an honest broker in facilitating discussions and fostering consensus on this complex issue,” he said.

“Singapore has been the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations since 2015. It has been a privilege and pleasure for me to witness at first-hand the achievements in China-ASEAN relations during this period. As ASEAN Chair and Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, Singapore will continue to deepen cooperation between the two sides,” said Tan Hung Seng.

Huge opportunities in innovation cooperation

China-ASEAN Year of Innovation was launched in April 2018. “China-ASEAN Year of Innovation resonates with one of Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship themes. Innovation is a salient topic in today’s digital economy, where technological mastery is key to providing better services to our people and to economic success. To this end,ASEAN and China are seeking to deepen mutuallybeneficial cooperation in innovation. The potential is huge as ASEAN and China are home to a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups, technology companies and solution providers. In addition, China currently houses the world’s second largest group of unicorns,and is among the top three countries for venture capital investment in digital technologies,” said Tan Hung Seng.

Tan Hung Seng holds that the development of smart cities is a good entry point for China-ASEAN cooperation in innovation. As part of Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship deliverables, Singapore will be launching the ASEAN Smart Cities Network(ASCN). The ASCN is designed to be an inclusive and collaborative platform where nominated cities across ASEAN develop individualised action plans,craft a framework for smart city development that is unique to ASEAN, and catalyse bankable projects in collaboration with the private sector and ASEAN’s external partners, including China. Tan Hung Seng said, “Today, ASEAN has identified a total of 26 pilot cities for the inaugural year. With more than 500 smart city projects underway, China has the largest number of smart cities in the world. There is much we can learn from China’s experience, and we look forward to facilitating partnerships between these ASEAN cities and external partners like China.”