ASEAN countries welcome Vietnam’s initiatives to enhance cooperation
Senior officials of the ASEAN member states expressed unanimity for Vietnam’s initiatives to promote political-security cooperation within the ASEAN bloc in 2020 at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM) in Bangkok on November 1.
Senior officials of the ASEAN member states at the Prep-SOM on November 1 (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Senior officials of the ASEAN member states expressedunanimity for Vietnam’s initiatives to promote political-security cooperationwithin the ASEAN bloc in 2020 at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ PreparatoryMeeting (Prep-SOM) in Bangkok on November 1.
The initiatives include conducting a mid-term review of the ASEANPolitical-Security Community Blueprint 2025, consolidating the ASEAN RegionalForum, and enhancing the role of the ASEAN Maritime Forum in coordinating seacooperative activities in the region.
The Prep-SOM, chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Thai Foreign MinistryBusaya Mathelin, aimed to review preparation for the 35th ASEAN Summitand related summits, comprising working programmes, agenda and more than 40documents expected to be submitted to high-ranking leaders for approval.
On theoccasion, Thailand looked back at the implementation of priorities and majorinitiatives during 2019, the year it holds the ASEAN Chair, such as aninitiative to develop ASEAN human resources, and build Complementaritiesbetween the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda forSustainable Development.
Participants at the meeting discussed in particular issues related to thecooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, such as preparation forthe ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in November 2019, thepossibility of organizing an annual ASEAN-Australia Summit since 2020, and promotingthe implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Seaand negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the waters between ASEAN and China.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Preparatory Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting deliberated on the finalizationof negotiations of the RCEP. This proposed free trade agreement comprisesthe ten ASEAN Member States and its six free trade agreement partners outsidethe region: China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
The 35th ASEAN Summit and related Summits are taking place in Bangkok and Nonthaburi fromNovember 2-4./.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its six trading partners remain optimistic about making a breakthrough on the long-delayed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation left Hanoi on November 1 night for Thailand to attend the 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, scheduled for November 2-4 in Bangkok.
The ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) will be launched at the opening ceremony of the 35th ASEAN Summit held in Thailand on November 3.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended the 20thASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting and the 24th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on November 2.
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.
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.
Senior officials of the ASEAN member states at the Prep-SOM on November 1 (Photo: VNA) 
