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