Malaysia PM calls on ASEAN countries to continue promoting peace
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Malaysia PM calls on ASEAN countries to continue promoting peace. (Illustrative photo: Bernama)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recalled ASEAN’s outstanding accomplishments and proposed ambitious goals for the bloc’s future while addressing a ceremony in celebration of its 58th founding anniversary in Kuala Lumpur on August 8.
The PM called on Southeast Asian countries to promote friendship and cooperation, as well as a shared responsibility for peace, security, and prosperity of each nation and the region as a whole.
Peace - both among nations and within each nation - is the foundation of the ASEAN regional community, he affirmed.
According to the Government leader, a highlight of Malaysia’s chairmanship was its role as a mediator in the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.
As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia facilitated negotiations between the two countries, he said, expressing appreciation for the support of ASEAN leaders, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping for these efforts.
In addition, PM Anwar also mentioned to the situation in Myanmar, noting that some progress had been made towards achieving a ceasefire. He announced that the Malaysian Foreign Minister, along with his counterparts from Thailand and Indonesia, is expected to visit Myanmar soon to promote dialogue in the country.
He shared that the focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthe🔯ning economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity./.
The forum, scheduled to take place from August 19 to 21, will serve as a platform to push for regional cooperation in building fairer and more inclusive legal systems, Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said at an ceremony to introduce the event on August 4.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 29 called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to focus the bloc’s energies inward, towards building a more integrated and resilient ASEAN economy.
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The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
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Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
