Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ha🐭s stressed that ASEAN and China need to maintain a positive relationship.
As a coordinator for the ASEAN-China relations, Singapore will work with Beijing to accelerate talks on creating a framework of mechanisms to execute the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, he said.
Speaking at the ASEAN-China Summit marking the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship between the two sides on September 7, PM Lee said there remain problems in the ASEAN-China relationship, though at its peak, and one of them is the dispute in East Sea.
However, the Singaporean leader said the two sides should pursue the common goal of peace and stability in the region, a prerequisite condition to sustain economic growth.
Mentioning the economic cooperation between ASEAN and China, he emphasised the importance of China as a leading trade partner of most ASEAN member countries.
According to Lee, two-way trade skyrocketed from 8 billion USD in 1991 to 370 billion USD at the moment.
The PM also said both sides’ efforts in economic cooperation will help move towards the goal of 1,000 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2020, adding that ASEAN can overtake the United States and the European Union to become China’s largest trade partner.
Earlier, during a September 6 meeting with Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos’ Vientiane capital, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed his hope that Singapore can play a constructive role in strengthening the relationship between Beijing and ASEAN.
He said that Beijing always considers ASEAN a diplomatic priority in the region and wants to work with the grouping to expand shared interests and contribute more to peace and stability in the region.-VNA
Foreign ministers of ASEAN member states and China issued their joint statement on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
The 19th consultation between ASEAN economic ministers and ministers from ASEAN’s partner countries of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held in Vientiane, Laos, on August 4.
Issues related to the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the building of the Code of Conduct will be submitted to the upcoming ASEAN-China Summit in Laos.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (Photo: AFP/VNA)
