An initiative by the Intellectual Pursuit Sub-Committee, this NUSS Dialogue at Suntec City Guild House brought members an engaging and thought-provoking evening with Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri, a distinguished voice in international relations.
He shared sharp insights on how global power shifts are reshaping Southeast Asia’s future amid US-China trade tensions and the “China +1” strategy, which is prompting firms to rethink supply-chain resilience. Despite these headwinds, he noted that Southeast Asia’s 700-million-strong market and diversity offer significant opportunities—if countries can coordinate their efforts and harness their strengths.
Ambassador Ashok also discussed how technology and religion are powerful forces influencing geopolitics today. While the region’s multiculturalism offers a model for coexistence, rapid advances in AI and social media bring new regulatory and ethical challenges.
He further highlighted Singapore’s careful balance between major powers, leveraging strong ties with both East and West to remain competitive and connected.
The session concluded with a call to strengthen regional collaboration, particularly among digitally advanced economies such as Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Through such initiatives, NUSS continues to foster platforms for intellectual engagement, enabling members to gain deeper perspectives on the forces shaping our world. Explore upcoming Dialogues and Intellectual Pursuit activities here.
