ASEAN

Illustrative image (Source: Internet) Singapore (VNA) – The 32nd ASEAN Summit will take place on April 27-28 in Singapore under the theme of “Building a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN”, with the participation of leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states. Earlier, the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, meetings of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, the ASEAN Economic Community Council and the ASEAN Coordinating Council will be held from April 26-27 in preparation for the summit. During the summit, participating leaders are expected to discuss measures to build a resilient and innovative ASEAN and intensify relations between the bloc and its partners, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of shared concern. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead a Vietnamese high-ranking delegation to the summit. His attendance reflects Vietnam’s support for Singapore in the role as ASEAN Chair in 2018, as … [Read more...] about ASEAN Summit looks to build resilient, innovative community

A performance of Vietnamese girls with ao dai (traditional long dress) and conical hats at the exchange programme (Photo: VNA)   HCM City (VNA) - A trade and culture exchange programme among ASEAN nations opened at Ho Chi Minh City’s September 23 Park on April 18. The event, hosted by the municipal People’s Committee, is to mark Vietnam’s 43rd Reunification Day (April 30) and the third founding anniversary of the ASEAN Economic Community. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem said over the past 50 years, ASEAN has become a unified community with a common vision and identity. Easier flow of traffic and frequent economic and cultural activities between members with a population of nearly 630 million people have brought the countries closer, he added. The exchange programme offers opportunities for people in ASEAN to introduce their cultural and historical values to international friends, bolstering … [Read more...] about HCM City hosts ASEAN trade, culture exchange event

The Indonesian parliament has demanded Facebook to hand over its audit on the data leak that had affected millions of users (Photo: AFP/VNA)   Hanoi (VNA) – The Indonesian parliament has demanded Facebook to hand over its audit on the data leak that had affected millions of users. The leak could be inappropriately used for political interest related to the upcoming elections in the country, the Indonesian parliament said. The demand was conveyed by legislators in a hearing held in Indonesia on April 17 with Facebook Indonesia Public Policy chief Ruben Hattari and Facebook Asia-Pacific Public Policy chief Simon Milner. A legislator of the parliament, Meutya Hafid, said that document of Facebook audit must be handed over within one month after the hearing, so as to ensure the data will not be used for political misconduct. Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the hearing, Meutya Hafid said the Indonesian parliament has to know that the data was used by which party and … [Read more...] about Indonesian parliament demands Facebook hand over audit on data leak

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Source: AFP/VNA)   Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has promised to increase pay for religious counsellors. He made the statement when meeting with around 5,000 religious counsellors in Semarang, Central Java recently. The pay rise will be given to religious counsellors who have been hired by the Religious Affairs Ministry on a contractual basis. According to the ministry, of 81,000 religious counsellors, 45,000 are hired by the government on a contractual basis. The President voiced his hope the pay will be doubled this year or next year. He said that he would talk to the regional legislative councils regarding the matter. He said every time he met other country leaders, he always heard praise for Indonesia’s unity, stressing that religious counsellors play the key role in Indonesia’s unity. Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry currently employs religious counsellors for the six religions recognised … [Read more...] about Indonesia to raise income for religious counsellors

Illustrative image (Source: nationmultimedia.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Political parties in Thailand on April 17 expressed concerns over the membership verification process for their members, which could not be completed by the end of this month, as required, due to too many public holidays. The existing parties are racing against time to adhere to Order No 53/2017 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which requires party memberships to be renewed, including the submission of documents and the payment of membership fees, by April 30. After the Songkran new year holidays, there will be less than 10 working days left in April.  Anyone failing to register in time will lose their memberships and will have to re-register as new members. However, as a result of the NCPO ban on political movements which has yet to be lifted, parties have been unable to carry out any political activities, including the acquisition of new members. According to acting secretary-general … [Read more...] about Thailand: Political parties worry over membership registration delay

Indonesian President Joko Widodo chaired a national strategic project evaluation meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta (Source: Antara News) Indonesian President Joko Widodo convened a cabinet meeting on April 17 to review and evaluate the implementation of national strategic projects in the first quarter of 2018. The Indonesian Government has decided to reduce 14 strategic projects worth up to 26 trillion rupiah (2 billion USD).  The cancelled projects include Jambi-Pelembang railway project, railway development project in East Kalimantan, water supply system in North Sumatra, Pelosika dam project in Southeast Sulawesi and special economic zone project in Merauke.  Last year, the Indonesian Government accelerated the implementation of national strategic projects, with 55 new projects and one aircraft industry development programme. Accordingly, there were a total of 245 projects, with 10 of them completed.  Following an evaluation, the government decided to … [Read more...] about Indonesia reviews national strategic projects

Jayant Menon, Lead Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). (Photo: themalaymailonline.com) – The 22nd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM-22) took place in Singapore on April 4. On the occasion, Jayant Menon, Lead Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), wrote an article assessing ASEAN’s economic performance. A view of the 22nd ASEAN Finance Ministers' Meeting that took place in Singapore on April 4. (Photo: VNA) … [Read more...] about ADB economist assesses ASEAN’s economic performance

ASEAN is among China's top three trade partners in the first quarter of 2018. (Photo: thejakartapost.com) Hanoi (VNA) – ASEAN, the European Union and the United States were the top three trade partners of China, which together accounted for 41.2 percent of the country’s total trade turnover in the first quarter of 2018, according to the Chinese General Administration of Customs (GAC). China’s total foreign trade rose 9.4 percent to 6.75 trillion yuan (over 1.07 trillion USD) in the first three months of this year. Huang Songping, a GAC spokesperson, told a press briefing on April 13 that the relatively fast trade growth was a result of a mild global economic recovery - a driver for trading activities, as well as the sound development of the domestic economy, which has boosted demand for imports. Steady progress in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and stronger trading with emerging markets also supported the growth, Huang said, as China’s trade volume … [Read more...] about ASEAN among China’s top three trade partners in Q1

Illustrative image (Source: thejakartapost.com) Beijing (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China launched a joint laboratory programme on April 12 in order to boost bilateral innovation cooperation. Speaking at the inauguration of the 2018 ASEAN-China Year of Innovation at the China-ASEAN Innovation Forum in Beijing, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang said that China has built a series of excellent joint laboratories and promoted the opening of China's national laboratories in ASEAN countries. He pointed to several joint laboratories between China and several ASEAN members, including the China-Indonesia joint laboratory for high temperature gas cooled reactors, the China-Thailand railway system joint research center, the China-Laos joint laboratory for new and renewable energy, and the China-Myanmar joint laboratory for radar and satellite communications. In addition, China has cooperated with 158 countries and regions in … [Read more...] about ASEAN, China establish joint science, technology labs

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected that Indonesia's economy will grow by 5.3 percent in 2018 and 2019 (Source: jakartaglobe.id)   Hanoi (VNA) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected that Indonesia's economy will grow by 5.3 percent annually in 2018 and 2019 thanks to improving investment and household consumption.  ADB Country Director in Indonesia Winfried Wicklein said the government’s management of Indonesian economy remains strong while structural reforms encourage more direct investment, leading to higher and more inclusive growth for Indonesia.  ADB’s senior economist Priasto Aji expressed hope that investment climate reforms undertaken by the government would boost economic growth.  In ADB’s projection, public and private investment can grow by above 6 percent in 2018 and 2019, he said.  Indonesia’s economy is forecast to be higher than the same period last year, backed by increasing government investment and … [Read more...] about ADB forecasts Indonesia’s growth at 5.3 percent this year