ASEAN, FIFA agree to cooperate to develop football in Southeast Asia
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thailand on November 2.
ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Federation of FootballAssociations (FIFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thailand onNovember 2 to promote social development and healthy lifestyles in the regionthrough football.
The MoU was inked by ASEAN Secretary-General LimJock Hoi and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the witness of leaders ofSoutheast Asian countries attending the ongoing 35th ASEAN Summitand Related Summits.
Lim described football, and sports in general,as a strategic means to bring peoples together, promote greaterpeople-to-people connectivity, and bind ASEAN stronger as one community.
The deal came just a few weeks after the 10ASEAN member nations agreed to set up a technical working group to look intothe possibility of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup by five countries, namelyThailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Others that have shown interest in staging the2034 World Cup include China, Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and joint biddersAustralia and New Zealand./.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said his country was concerned about the presence of Chinese coast guard vessels in its waters, while attending the 20th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting in Thailand on November 2 as part of the ongoing 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Photo: VNA) 
