Many Communities, One Shared Future’ was the theme of the recently concluded International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS). A key takeaway is that diversity is not a hindrance to social cohesion; it is how people manage the difference. It is also important that everyone plays a part and not wait for the government or institutions to do something.

…Ambassador Ong Keng Yong is Executive Deputy Chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. This is part of a series on the ICCS which was organised by RSIS on 19-21 June 2019 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). An earlier version of this appeared in The Straits Times.