NETIZENS REACT TO 'SEABLINGS' MOMENT AT G20 SUMMIT

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- "The ASEAN spirit shines no matter where we are!" Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong posted on his social media pages on Tuesday.

The post was accompanied by a photo of Wong with three other ASEAN leaders at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

The candid photo, showing the leaders laughing together, has garnered attention on Facebook and X, with many comments, particularly from netizens in the region, expressing their delight at witnessing the great camaraderie between the leaders, despite meeting in a country over 15,000 kilometres away.

One user even dubbed the leaders "SEAblings" – a playful combination of Southeast Asia and siblings, which is an apt remark, given that leaders in the region often describe each country as a brotherly nation.

"ASEAN has been a role model for decades in showing how neighbours can progress and excel in win-win partnerships despite bilateral hiccups. It's great to see a new generation of leaders elevating ASEAN to enduring friendship," user Syed Nazmul Ahsan said on X.

One comment also highlighted the rare meeting of four out of the ten ASEAN leaders, considering that only Indonesia is a member of the G20.

Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam participated in the summit as guest countries to the host nation.

The leaders had a packed schedule at the summit, which included numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

Wong said that for Singapore, being at the G20 summit means playing a role in shaping global initiatives, staying ahead of emerging trends, and adapting to new realities.

“This year, I had the opportunity to strengthen ties with world leaders, share Singapore’s perspectives, and advance key issues like job creation, tackling inequality, and supporting just energy transitions,” he posted on social media.

At the now-concluded summit, leaders of the G20 addressed major global challenges and crises, and promoted strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building a fair world and a sustainable planet, prioritising the fight against inequalities in all their dimensions, without leaving anyone behind.

-- BERNAMA