US President Barack Obama began his official visit to Laos on September 6, which is the first to the Southeast Asian country made by a US president in history.
Vientiane (VNA) – US President Barack Obama began his official visit to Laos on September 6, which is the first to the So🔴utheast Asian country made by a US president in history.
Following the welcome ceremony, Obama and Lao President Bounnhang Volatchith held talks, agreeing that the historic visit signals good signs for bilateral ties.
They discussed orientations to bilateral ties in the future, especially the clearance of bombs and mines left over from the war, the search for remains of missing US soldiers in Laos, as well as cooperation in drugs combat, education, investment, trade and socio-culture, and regional and global issues of shared concern.
On the occasion, the US President committed 90 million USD to Laos over the three years to clearing 80 million war-era unexploded ordnances.
Concluding the talks, host and guest issued a joint statement on the establishment of Laos-US Comprehensive Partnership to strengthen bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect and benefit.
The statement made it clear that both countries respect respective political regimes, independence, democracy and territorial integrity, contributing to building and safeguarding peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in each country, the region and the world.
During the visit, President Obama also attended the ASEAN Summits and related meetings.-VNA
Leaders of many countries worldwide have confirmed their attendance at the 28 th and 29 th ASEAN Summits and related summits slated for September in Laos.
US President Barack Obama on September 6 pledged to provide Laos with 90 million USD to implement a three-year project to detect and remove dozens of millions of unexploded bombs dropped by the US.
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.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
