SINGAPORE: In a world where trust is in short supply, being trusted is one of Singapore’s greatest strengths, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Aug 23).Amid growing pressures in international trade, competition among great powers and the emergence of new technologies, there is a higher risk of conflict escalation, noted Mr Wong in his National Day Rally speech. “This is our world today – more contested, more unstable and more dangerous than before.“These are not temporary disruptions. This is the new normal that Singapore will have to endure and survive for many years to come,” he said.Given this reality, the country cannot respond by retreating or turning inward, said Mr Wong.Singapore has succeeded by connecting to and creating value for the world, and it will continue to build deeper connections, stay relevant and create more opportunities for its citizens, he said.Noting that the country is a major hub for business and finance, Mr Wong said Singapore plays a vital role in global supply chains, and brings markets, capital, talent and ideas together.“All of these strengths depend on one thing: Trust,” he said. “Countries trust us, businesses trust us, investors trust us.”They know Singapore is a place where the rule of law prevails, institutions are strong and contracts and commitments are honoured, said Mr Wong, who is also the finance minister."When Singapore gives our word, we keep it,” he said.“In a world where trust is becoming harder to find, this remains one of our greatest strengths. We will build on this trust and deepen our links with the world," he added.To this end, Singapore will do everything it can to strengthen unity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when the country becomes the grouping’s chair next year.“We will also strengthen partnerships beyond our region – bring diverse partners together, build common ground, and keep channels for dialogue and cooperation open,” Mr Wong said. However, Singapore cannot assume that others will come to our rescue when trouble arises.“We must be able to stand on our own, and take care of our own,” he said, noting that Singapore moved quickly to bring its citizens home, secure essential supplies and roll out support packages for workers, households and businesses when the Middle East crisis happened.The immediate priority has been to steady the ship and help Singaporeans through the turbulence, he said.“But we must go beyond that and prepare for the deeper changes to come,” he said.