In a commentary, SMU President and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences Lily Kong reflected on Asia's trajectory and whether the "Asian Century" remains within reach. Drawing on this year's ASEAN Summit and APEC meeting, Prof Kong argued that the Asian Century must be practised, not proclaimed — evolving from "Factory Asia" to what she terms "Stewardship Asia," where prosperity is paired with purpose and growth with generosity. While acknowledging the region's persistent tensions — from South Asia to the Thai-Cambodia border to cross-strait relations — she maintained that Asia's plurality remains both its greatest asset and its deepest challenge. Looking ahead to Singapore's ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, Prof Kong called for patient institution-building that yields not just frameworks and policies, but habits of mind: the capacity to disagree without fracture, to compete without contempt, and to rise together rather than alone.
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