Indonesia inaugurates Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway
Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on October 2 that it has officially put into operation a high-speed railway line, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, which connects the capital Jakarta to the city of Bandung.
The total investment for the 142km railway was estimated at 7.3 billion USD (Photo: Barchart)
Hanoi(VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on October 2 that it has officiallyput into operation a high-speed railway line, the first of its kin♑d inSoutheast Asia, w✤hich connects the capital Jakarta to the city of Bandung.
Speakingat the ceremony in Jakarta, Widodo said that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railwaymarks the modernination of this type of public transport, which is efficientand environmentally friendly.
The totalinvestment for the 142km railway was estimated at 7.3 billion USD. With speeds of up to 350kmper hour, the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung is reduced to 45minutes, down from the previous th💜ree-hour journey. Both Jakarta and Bandung are densely populated cities in Indonesia
A seniorofficial said that a trial period has been launched since the second week ofSeptember when residents can ride free of charge, adding that it will be extended and ticket sales will begin in mid-October.
Previously, on September29, the Indonesian Ministry of Transport issued an operating license to the companythat builds and operates the railway line./.
Indonesia has the potential to become a country that has a strategic position to meet world gas needs, President of SPA for Asia Pacific Region ENI, Ciro Antonio Pagano, has said.
Indonesia launched its first carbon exchange on September 26, giving companies a chance to offset their emissions as the Southeast Asian country pledges to reach carbon neutrality in its power sector by 2050.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on September 27 that the country’s government targets the light rail transit (LRT) project in Bali to start its groundbreaking in early 2024.
Indonesia has banned goods transactions on social media platforms to rein in direct sales on major platforms which are said to harm millions of small businesses, according to Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
PGN, a Pertamina subsidiary, and three Japanese companies are looking to produce biomethane from palm oil mill effluent (POME) to meet rising natural gas demand and reduce methane emissions, reported the Jakarta Post.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
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.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
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.
The total investment for the 142km railway was estimated at 7.3 billion USD (Photo: Barchart) 
