Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developmenthas proposed two initiatives for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020.
The first initiativeis to build a roadmap to fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)fishing in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020-2025.
The ASEAN Secretariatsent the initiative to the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) tocollect feedback for supplements and revisions.
The ministry willcoordinate with the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASWGFi to make a draft roadmap,which is expected to be considered at the 27th ASWGFi meeting inBrunei in May before being submitted to the 42nd ASEAN Ministers onAgriculture and Forestry Meeting in Cambodia in October for approval.
The second initiativeis to build the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and StrategicPlan of Action on Food Security in The ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) in 2021-2025.
The initiative wasagreed by ASEAN countries which are members of the ASEAN Food Security ReserveBoard (AFSRB).
The draft documentsare hoped to be considered at the 40th AFSRB meeting in Vietnam inJuly before being submitted for approval at the 42nd ASEAN Ministerson Agriculture and Forestry Meeting.
In addition, theministry suggested establishing a network developing one commune-one productmodel in the bloc, holding an international symposium on science and technologyin disaster prevention and another on reducing disaster risks for vulnerablegroups.
This year when Vietnamtakes the ASEAN Chairmanship, the ministry will host a series of importantevents, including the 40th AFSRB meeting slated for July 6-7 inHanoi./.
Head of the Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, Ambassador Tran Duc Binh chaired the first 2020 meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) in Indonesia on February 18.
The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) officially opened in Hanoi on February 19 morning, under the chair of Vietnam’s Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich.
ASEAN still has to face a number of challenges, and to cope with them, the association should continue enhancing intra-bloc cohesion to create consensus and collective strength to stay responsive to external factors, Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich has said.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
