Singapore, March 3 -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has affirmed that the island nation can navigate global challenges even as the entire global system is changing while rounding up a debate on Budget 2025.

Speaking in Parliament on February 28, he said that the Singaporean government will continue to create good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans while pressing on with industry transformation and keeping an eye on its cost competitiveness.

The PM noted that countries are focusing more on defence and security interests with zero-sum competition rather than win-win cooperation. These developments disadvantage small, open economies like Singapore.

He said that major powers do not want conflict, but are preparing for confl...