ASEAN and Canada set a target to double the current 19 billion CAD (13.2 billion USD) in bilateral trade during the fourth ASEAN-Canada consultations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 25.
Ministers at the fourth ASEAN-Canada Consultations (Source: VNA)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada set a target to double the current 19 billion CAD (13.2 billion USD) in bilateral trade during the fourth ASEAN-Canada consultations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 25.
At the meeting, ASEAN and Canadian economic ministers expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of the 2014-2015 action plan for the two sides’ Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment (JDTI) through senior dialogues, trade and investment promotion activities and the involvement of Canadian enterprises in events and fairs in ASEAN.
They approved another action plan for 2016-2020 to intensify bilateral economic cooperation with a focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises, and share information between Canada’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) network with ASEAN CSR experts as well as information relating to energy, aviation, agriculture, oil and gas, information technology and infrastructure.
In 2014, trade reached 13.2 billion USD, up 10.9 percent against the previous year. Canada was the seventh largest investor in ASEAN with 1.3 billion USD.
On the same day at the fourth ASEAN-Russia consultations, economic ministers appreciated measures to further enhance bilateral economic ties through the implementation of the ASEAN-Russia trade and investment cooperation programme with a focus on tourism, energy, farm produce and technology.
They expressed their delight at the growth of bilateral trade with total turnover reaching 22.5 billion USD last year, an annual rise of 13 percent. ASEAN exports made up 5.4 billion USD of the total, up 3.3 percent. Russia was ASEAN’s eighth biggest trade partner in the year.
To deepen the ties, the ministers approved a post-2015 trade and investment cooperation programme in line with the ASEAN-Russia trade and investment cooperation road map adopted on October 12, 2012.
They also welcomed a list of 57 Russian projects to strengthen economic cooperation in the private sector.
At the consultation meeting between ASEAN economic ministers with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC), participating ministers appreciated BAC proposals on the post-2015 agenda, saying they will help intensify connectivity in financial service, reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers, facilitate the travel of experts and skilled labourers and design a common private sector assessment system beyond 2015.
They also revealed that the ASEAN young entrepreneur council will debut in November.-VNA
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The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) submitted proposals to the 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on April 26-27, highlighting the need to form a regional bank and remove non-tariff barriers before the ASEAN Economic Economy is formed by the end of 2015.
The 47th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM 47) will be held in Kuala Lumpur from August 22-25 to put the finishing touches on the formal establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
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The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
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.
Ministers at the fourth ASEAN-Canada Consultations (Source: VNA)
