Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently spoke about the potential benefits of collaboration within the Commonwealth, specifically highlighting areas such as trade and climate response that could prove advantageous for Singapore. Following his debut attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Prime Minister Wong expressed Singapore’s commitment to fortifying connections with nations worldwide, given the nation’s open and vulnerable position in today’s evolving global landscape.
The summit took place in the Samoan capital, Apia, with the theme, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth”.
According to CNA, Prime Minister Wong acknowledged the diversity within the Commonwealth while underscoring the shared heritage, including a predominance of English-speaking member states and similar legal frameworks. He also outlines the discussions that centered on leveraging this common ground to facilitate enhanced trade and investment, streamline business interactions, and foster a stronger collective presence, particularly amidst a backdrop of increasing global fragmentation.
Notably, the imperative of addressing climate change resonated prominently during the CHOGM deliberations, with a focus on the challenges faced by island states within the Commonwealth, including Singapore and the host nation, Samoa. Given their susceptibility to extreme weather events and rising sea levels, climate change emerged as a pivotal agenda item, especially in light of the summit being held for the first time in a Pacific nation.
Prime Minister Wong reiterated the significance of upholding rules-based multilateralism, particularly within the context of smaller states such as Samoa and Singapore, a sentiment that reverberated among numerous leaders at CHOGM. He underscored the adoption of the Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, aimed at safeguarding the marine environment, promoting the blue economy, and addressing issues such as climate change impacts and over-exploitation of natural resources.
Key provisions within the declaration encompass the protection and restoration of at least 30% of the ocean and marine ecosystems by 2030, in addition to efforts aimed at reducing emissions from global maritime shipping.
As Mr. Wong quote, “The Commonwealth aiga (family) is a shining example of the value that rules-based multilateralism can bring, especially to small island States like ours. ”