With outstanding development, reform, and open-door policies, Vietnam has always been at the centre of ASEAN since it joined the bloc 25 years ago, experts from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) have said.
Singapore (VNA) - With outstandingdevelopment, reform, and open-door policies, Vietnam has always been at thecentre of ASEAN since it joined the bloc 25 years ago, experts from the SingaporeInstitute of International Affairs (SIIA) have said.
SIIA Chairman Associate Professor Simon Tay saidVietnam has made significant contributions to the grouping, especially thisyear, when it is serving as ASEAN Chair.
Vietnam’s efforts in opening its doors to the world havebeen outstanding, he said in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) onthe occasion of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership ofASEAN on July 28.
Jessica Wau, SIIA’s Assistance Director at ASEAN,lauded Vietnam’s leading role in ASEAN this year, adding that its response tothe COVID-19 pandemic has been impressive.
She commended its efforts in organising summits onCOVID-19 and calling on countries to engage in dialogue and cooperate to copewith the disease.
Jessica said ASEAN’s top priority in the time aheadwill be economic recovery, and to that end it should maintain its open goodssupply chain and establish intra-bloc travel mechanisms with safety measures,to ensure integration as well as economic growth./.
Russia is willing to expand cooperation with Vietnam and member countries of the ASEAN in the field of agriculture, including the development of innovative technologies, the Ministry of Economic Development said on July 27.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on July 28 affirmed that Vietnam will promote its role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in order to contribute more to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
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.
Illustrative image (Photo: internet) 
