World

The factory of Vietnam's Garment 10 Corporation in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Economic ministers of the 10 ASEAN member countries and China have agreed to bolster the bilateral trade during their meeting on the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM 51) in Bangkok. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit was quoted by local media as saying on September 9 that ASEAN countries and China have agreed to work together in the framework of the ASEAN-China free trade agreement in three areas, which are negotiations for the opening of more markets, updates to regulations regarding products’ Rules of Origin and free investment zones.   At the meeting, Thailand asked China to provide 130 million CNY for the implementation of several projects designed to stimulate economic growth in the ASEAN, such as the R3A road connecting Bangkok in Thailand and Kunming in China, developing new-generation entrepreneurs and … [Read more...] about ASEAN, China bolster trade partnership

At the launching ceremony (Photo: laotiantimes.com) Geneva (VNA) – Laos and the European Union (EU) on September 9 made a major step forward in bolstering trade and investment with the ARISE Plus-Laos programme with a total budget of 5 million EUR (5.52 million USD). The ASEAN Regional Integration Support – Lao People’s Democratic Republic Trade-Related Assistance (ARISE Plus-Laos) programme is designed to enhance Laos’s export competitiveness and integration in export in regional and global value chains. It will seek to promote trade and tap into the potential of the two chosen sectors of wood processing and specialty agriculture, which enables small and medium-size enterprises in Laos to increase their export knowledge, including on how to trade better and more with partners in the EU. As the fourth largest trade partner of Laos, the EU voiced its hope that the country will take advantage of its membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and reap … [Read more...] about EU programme supports Laos’ export

Smog covers Kuching in Sarawak state of Malaysia's Borneo island (Photo: AFP/VNA)   Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia has closed hundreds of schools in Sarawak state after air quality dropped due to the ongoing haze, the state Education Department said on September 10. Accordingly, 347 primary and 62 secondary schools in nine districts were closed, affecting more than 150,000 students. Air quality in several parts of the state was rated as "unhealthy" with the Air Pollution Index reading between 120 and 186 points, according to the Department of Environment. According to the country's air quality rating, an API reading of zero to 50 is "good," 51 to 100 "moderate," 101 to 200 "unhealthy," 201 to 300 "very unhealthy," and 301 and above is "hazardous." The schools will be closed immediately if the API reading in a district rises beyond 200. Meanwhile, parts of Peninsula Malaysia recorded an API between 102 and 195 with the worst hit being Rompin district in Pahang state, … [Read more...] about Malaysia closes over 400 schools due to haze

Traffic congestion in Jakarta (Source: The Jakarta Post) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s plan to relocate the capital city from Jakarta has received wide support from its citizens. President Joko Widodo said the ideal location for the new capital will straddle two districts of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan province on Borneo island. Indonesian residents believe the relocation will ease the pressure on a crowded and polluted Jakarta with 10 million people. Besides, locals will have more job opportunities without leaving their hometown. The government will design a new capital on 180,000 hectares of land in the province at a cost of 466 trillion IDR (32.79 billion USD), of which the state would fund 19 percent, with the rest to come from public-private partnerships and private investment.   The price tag includes new government offices and homes for about 1.5 million civil servants. However, experts said the capital move could prompt … [Read more...] about Indonesian people welcome capital relocation plan

Thai farmers are expected to benefit from new government stimulus measures (Photo:Bangkok Post) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai government will announce economic stimulus packages for poor people in rural areas as part of an effort to bring GDP growth to over 3 percent in 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has said. The government will order the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Finance Ministry, Housing Fund and Industry Ministry to cooperate on taking new measures for farmers under the Pracha Rat scheme, the Deputy PM told media. Relevant agencies will start discussion on the packages immediately, he said. According to Deputy PM Somkid, the agricultural sector is a key economic engine for the country, but farmers have limited incomes. The Industry Ministry must support farmers through projects to increase their efficiency and promote the development of agricultural products because the agricultural sector is being promoted as one of 12 … [Read more...] about Thailand to announce economic stimulus packages for farmers

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung (second from left) at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.(Photo: VNA) Geneva (VNA) – Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations, is leading a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the impact of climate change on human rights, which opened in Geneva on September 9. The event drew the participation of 47 member states, and more than 100 observer states, international organisations and non-governmental organisations. In her remarks at the opening session, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet reiterated the priority to promote human rights amid global climate change, saying never before has the world faced such a formidable challenge. Chaotic weather patterns and other manifestations of the environmental emergency are reversing major development gains, exacerbating conflict, … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends UNHRC’s 43nd session on climate change

In the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari, a rally against the alleged racist slurs took a violent turn on August 19, with some protesters setting ablaze a local parliamentary building and tires in several parts of the city. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian National Police's Counterterrorism Squad, Densus 88, is probing a likely involvement of the Islamic state (ISIS) group in a string of riots in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, Indonesia’s Antara News Agency reported. The police are working all-out to unearth the masterminds behind the riots, said Chief of the Public Relations Bureau of the National Police Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo. A string of violent rallies broke out in several parts of Papua and West Papua as an upshot of the alleged racist slurs against Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java. In the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari, a rally against the alleged racist slurs took a violent turn on August 19, with … [Read more...] about Indonesia investigates possible ISIS link in Papua riots

At the 7th annual EU-ASEAN Business Summit in Bangkok on September 9 (Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) - EU Ambassador to Thailand Pirkka Tapiola has said he is optimistic that the long-delayed free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the EU and the Southeast Asian nation will continue in the time to come. Pirkka, who is also head of the EU delegation to the ASEAN, stated this at the 7th annual EU-ASEAN Business Summit in Bangkok on September 9. The EU is the third largest trading partner of both Thailand and the ASEAN. It is also the top investor in the regional grouping. Trade negotiations between the EU and Thailand have been halted since 2014, with European officials refusing to negotiate with unelected governments. After Thailand successfully organized its general election on March 24, FTA negotiations between the two sides can continue, however there has been no official announcement related to the talks.-VNA … [Read more...] about EU optimistic about FTA talks with Thailand

Illustrative image (Source: dvi-forensic.blogspot.com) Hanoi (VNA) – At least three passengers died and 28 others were injured in a traffic accident on the expressway linking Myanmar’s city of Yangon and Mandalay city on September 9. The Myanmar Fire Services Department said the bus with 45 passengers turned over as the driver lost control. Rescue forces were promptly mobilised to the accident site.-VNA  … [Read more...] about Myanmar: at least 3 killed, 28 injured in bus overturn

At a bombing scene in Jolo island, the Philippinies (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A suicide bomber was killed after detonating a bomb outside a military camp on Jolo island, the southern Philippines on September 8. No other casualties were reported. According to a military statement, the attacker was “foreign looking”, dressed in a traditional Muslim woman’s abaya gown, and appeared to be a woman. However, authorities had not confirmed the attacker’s gender. Suicide attacks were once very rare in the country, but since July 2018 there have been four, including the latest explosion on Jolo island. Local authorities said the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for all three previous attacks; however, no group has yet bore responsibility for the latest, which came a day after a bombing injured eight at a market on the island of Mindanao. Separatist groups in the south have waged decades-long insurgencies that have killed thousands. The … [Read more...] about Philippines: Suicide bomber killed outside army base