The tenth meeting of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) Council under the Transportation Working Group (APTWG) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18.
The 10th meeting of the APEC Port Services Network Council under the Transportation Working Group takes place in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) –The tenth meeting of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) Council under theTransportation Working Group (APTWG) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18.
Delegatesat the event updated the APSN Five-Year Strategic Plan between 2014 and 2018,noting that the plan is important to setting directions for the organisation andthe next Council meeting.
Regardingthe handling of dangerous goods at ports, they agreed that there is a need forupdated dangerous goods guidelines for this region that would consider thenature of APEC economies and their different levels of development.
TheCouncil decided to compile best practices on the settlement of dangerous goodsat APEC ports.
Themeeting also reviewed outcomes of the 2017 APSN Workshop on Restructuring ofShipping and Port Industry: Trends and Challenges that took place in HCM Cityon August 15-16, 2017.
TheCouncil endorsed the proposed Action Plan for 2018, which sets forth majormeetings and activities organised by APSN, APEC transportation meetings, andspecific studies and projects.
Theplan also mentioned the APSN Five Year Strategic Plan during 2019-2023 withstrategic directions, key objectives and specific actions of APSN in the nextfive years.
TPTWG’s objective is to achieve the liberalisationof transportation services and works to enhance the safety of APEC transportsystems to encourage economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.
It also aims to balance security, safety, andenvironmental requirements with trade facilitation. These efforts are focusedon: facilitation of domestic policy regulations; development of intermodalsupply chains and secure transport activity; integration of corporate socialresponsibility; and building the capacity of all stakeholders to help themreach the eventual goal of free and open trade.
Parallel measures are undertaken byindividual economies to strengthen the security of all transportation modes -land, sea and air.-VNA
Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, at the plenary session of ABAC’s third meeting in 2017 in Toronto on July 26, urged the business community in APEC economies to actively join the forum’s activities this year.
APEC needs to become an open, innovative and inclusive region with a long-term vision to create sustainable and inclusive growth, heard the third APEC Business Advisory Council meeting in Toronto, Canada.
Representatives of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies discussed investment in dynamic and healthy aging for sustainable growth at a multilateral forum opened in Ho Chi Minh City on August 15.
All officers and policemen in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will be mobilised to ensure security and safety for the APEC 2017 Food Security Week and High-Level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change scheduled for August 21-25.
The lotus flower and Ngu Hanh Son Mountain in the central city of Da Nang have been chosen as designs for postage stamps celebrating the APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
The 10th meeting of the APEC Port Services Network Council under the Transportation Working Group takes place in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 (Photo: VNA) 
