SINGAPORE - Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong will attend the Asean Summit in the Philippines on May 8, where leaders of the 11-member grouping are expected to discuss ways to strengthen trade, energy and food security in the region.

The biannual meeting, which will be held in Cebu, has been pared down to what Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr described as a “bare bones” programme, amid disruptions to supply chains and rising energy prices due to the Iran war.

The leaders will also discuss the region’s green energy transition and strengthening collaboration with Asean’s external partners to advance shared priorities as well as reinforce regional stability, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on May 6.

PM Wong will be accompanied by Mrs Wong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.

He is expected to have a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

The Philippines, which holds the Asean chairmanship this year, has declared a national energy emergency in light of the Middle East situation and the resulting escalation in fuel and electricity costs.

Much of its fuel imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed due to the conflict.

The theme of the Asean Summit...