A career diplomat, Ajit Singh become Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, at a time of double-digit growth and tremendous optimism. He was the first to have a ministerial rank, unlike his predecessors with ambassadorial status; a development championed by Malaysia’s foreign minister. We speak to Ajit about the challenges that presented themselves during his tenure - Myanmar’s inclusion in the grouping, China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea, and the perennial question of Asean cohesion - some of which continue till today.

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