SINGAPORE, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The current economic crisis presents a good opportunity for the Middle East and Asia to grow its relationship, Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said here on Thursday.

    According to report by local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia, Goh Spoke at the inaugural Asia-Middle East Media Roundtable that there have been a better understanding between the Middle East and Asia, but more could be done to facilitate cultural exchanges to eliminate stereotypes.

    Goh said that both the Middle East and Asia were looking more to the West for economic relations and political relations, while the Middle East is mainly regarded as a source of oil.

    "But it was the wrong attitude," he said, "as I've discovered, because in the Middle East we have plenty of opportunities to do business. There's a very rich culture there which we need to try and understand and Middle East has become more important in time to come and so would Asia."

    There are now about 1,000 Singaporeans working and living in Abu Dhabi. Singapore also has a big presence in Qatar within the waste management sector.