World

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (centre)(Photo: Inquirer.net) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was questioned on November 20 over the purchase of two French-made submarines during the time he was defence minister. Since his election loss earlier this year, Najib has faced numerous charges, most of which were related to the 1Mlaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. However, the latest probe revolves around a controversial 1.2 billion USD deal signed 16 years ago when Najib was defence minister, purchasing two Scorpene-class submarines. The French submarine maker, then known as DCNS, is alleged to have paid more than 114 million EUR in kickbacks to a shell company linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate to Najib, who brokered the deal. According to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Razak Baginda may also be hauled up to assist in their investigation of the submarine purchase. A French investigation ongoing … [Read more...] about Former Malaysian PM questioned over French submarine deal

Scene taken after a August 9 quake hit the Lombok island, Indonesia. (Illustrative photo: AP/EFE/Reuters/Getty) Hanoi (VNA) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on November 20 that it has approved a 500-million-USD emergency assistance loan to support Indonesia's recovery and rehabilitation of Lombok and Central Sulawesi after recent disasters. … [Read more...] about ADB approves 500 mln USD loan for Indonesia’s disaster recovery

Illustrative photo (Source:bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a campaigned called “Let’s go no plan” with the aim of encouraging tourists to visit the country’s second-tier cities. The new campaign is one of efforts by the Thai Government to diversify tourist destinations and boost domestic tourism in the context of decreasing Chinese visitors. The campaign, which will be carried out through the first quarter of 2019, aims to raise revenues from domestic tourism to 1 trillion THB (over 30.3 billion USDO. Under the programme, the TAT will promote local culture, local food, local products and attractions to Thai travellers through online and social media channels. At the same time, Thailand is also implementing several schemes to attract foreign visitors from November 15 this year to January 15, 2019, including double-entry visa for six months for tourists, waiving of the 2,000 THB fee for … [Read more...] about Thailand strives to bolster domestic tourism

Foreign visitors get on a train to tour Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong (Photo: VNA) Quang Nam (VNA) – The Smoke-free Cities ASEAN Network (SCAN) convened the 6th regional meeting in Hoi An city, the central province of Quang Nam, on November 20, focusing on reshaping tourism through smoke-free environments. The event was attended by more than 100 foreign delegates from smoke-free tourism cities of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, China and Mongolia. It also saw the presence of the Fund for Tobacco Harms Prevention and Control of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office. Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien, member of the management council of the Fund for Tobacco Harms Prevention and Control, said in Vietnam, the building of smoke-free tourism cities began in Hoi An city in … [Read more...] about ASEAN cities seek to promote smoke-free tourism environments

President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. (Photo: Reuters) Hanoi (VNA) – President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in on November 20 called for greater efforts to further enhance the country’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "ASEAN is already the world's second-largest market for us after China," the President said in a weekly Cabinet meeting at his office in Seoul. It represents the region most frequently visited by Korean people and the first passage through which the Korean cultural wave, or Hallyu, spreads, he added. Moon noted the country's trade with the 10-member ASEAN spiked 25 percent year-on-year in 2017 compared to the previous year. “Vietnam alone has a population of 100 million with an economic growth rate of 7 percent.” He highlighted the need to work with the Asian neighbours. He said ASEAN, India and Australia have expressed their support for the New Southern Policy that seeks to promote peace and … [Read more...] about RoK wants greater efforts to further expand ties with ASEAN

Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcomed by his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Manila on November 20, beginning his two-day state visit to the Philippines. This is the first visit to the Philippines by a Chinese head of state in 13 years. The Philippines is the last stop of Xi's three-country Asia-Pacific tour. Earlier, he visited Papua New Guinea, where he attended the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, and Brunei. Trade between China and the Philippines has increased significantly, but data shows mostly in China’s favour. Chinese exports to the Philippines grew 26 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the same period a year earlier, outpacing its imports from Manila, according to the central bank of the Philippines. Net foreign direct investment from China surged to 181 million USD for the first eight months of this year, from 28.8 million USD for all … [Read more...] about Chinese President begins State visit to Philippines

Former Foreign Minister of the Philippines Albert del Rosario. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Former Foreign Minister of the Philippines Albert del Rosario has called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to “pursue the wise path of moderation, reason and fairness” in the resolution of disputes in the East Sea. “It is imperative that China play its proper role in adhering to the rule of law to preserve stability, security and peace in the world so that we may all continue to pursue our aspirations for development and progress," said Del Rosario in an open letter to Xi on November 20, hours before the Chinese leader arrives in Manila for a two-day state visit. The former FM added that by doing so, China would have opportunity to stand as a champion of principle, fairness and inclusiveness in disputes and disagreements in the world. He noted that it is more crucial now than ever that all members of the global community strive together to preserve a rules-based … [Read more...] about Filipino ex-FM urges China to pursue path of moderation in sea dispute

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (Source: wikipedia) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is due to make an official visit to Malaysia from November 20. This is his first trip to the Southeast Asian country since he took office in August this year. A statement from the Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Pakistani leader will hold talks with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad to review the bilateral partnership and define new cooperation areas in the future. The visit underlines the significance and importance Malaysia attaches to its relationship with Pakistan, said the statement, adding that it will also be an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on a range of global and regional issues of common concern. Following the talks, the two leaders will witness the signing of an agreement on partial abolition of visa between the two governments. Malaysia and Pakistan have enjoyed substantive and longstanding … [Read more...] about Pakistani PM pays official visit to Malaysia

Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Van Dung (first, right), the ambassadors of Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, and Anil Sooklal – Deputy Director General for Asia and the Middle East at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (centre) pose for a photo at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Pretoria (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Pretoria on November 19 to mark the 25th founding anniversary of South Africa’s diplomatic ties with Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The event was attended by Anil Sooklal – Deputy Director General for Asia and the Middle East at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the ambassadors of the four Southeast Asian nations and diplomats of other countries. Opening the ceremony, Sindiswa Mququ, director for South Asia – Central Asia and Southeast Asia at the DIRCO’s Asia and the Middle East division, reviewed milestones in her … [Read more...] about South Africa marks 25 years of diplomatic ties with four ASEAN nations