In an increasingly troubled world, the Asean grouping remains a life raft for its members, which can steer the region’s affairs when they pull together, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Asean leaders declared at this week’s summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, that member countries should use their own currencies more often in intraregional trade, as the bloc aims to insulate the region from external volatility.