Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo participated in the ASEAN-JICA-World Bank Joint Workshop on "Lessons Learned from Conflict and Fragile Situations in Asia" on 5 April 2010. The workshop was a joint consultation with ASEAN, as part of the preparations the World Bank is undertaking for its 2011 World Development Report (WDR) that focuses on the theme of "Conflict, Security and Development". Minister Yeo is a member of the World Bank Advisory Council, which oversees the 2011 WDR.
At the workshop, Minister Yeo delivered his opening remarks for the closed-door Roundtable session on "National and Sub-National Peace-Building and State-Building", and participated in the Panel discussion on "Regional Challenges, Regional Solutions - Conflict and Fragility".
Minister Yeo highlighted the strategic role played by ASEAN in the early days and its continued relevance today in promoting nation-building, economic development and peace in the region, as well as the key initiatives that ASEAN has undertaken to resolve and prevent conflict in the region.
Minister Yeo was also hosted to tea by former Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
5 APRIL 2010