ASEAN connectivity plan reviewed in Indonesia. (Photo: thediplomat.com)
Jakarta (VNA)𓃲 – The second meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) in 2016 and related meetings took place in Manado, Indonesia on May 29-30 with Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Nguyen Hoanh Nam in attendance.
The meetings reviewed the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2010 (MPAC) to strengthen intra-regional connectivity in terms of infrastructure, institutions and people.
Regarding infrastructure connectivity, attendees reviewed the progress of several projects, including the ASEAN Highway Network, the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, and the ASEAN Broadband Corridor.
For institutional connectivity, the Implementation Frameworks of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market and the ASEAN Single Shipping Market were approved; and agreements on trade and transport facilitation will be continued.
For people-to-people connectivity, ASEAN rolled out the ASEAN Virtual Learning Resources Centre and the ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook while courses on ASEAN studies have been introduced in universities of the ASEAN University Network.
Attendees highlighted a lack of capital and human resources and insufficient coordination as obstacles to implementing the MPAC.
They stressed the need to strengthen coordination to implement the MPAC and improve the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat in monitoring ASEAN Connectivity projects.
The meetings also developed the post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda which will be submitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at the ASEAN Summit this September.
The ACCC’s third meeting this year will be held in Vientiane, Laos in October.-VNA
The establishment of the ASEAN Community on December 31, 2015, with three key pillars of Politics-Security, Economics, Culture-Society, marks a major milestone of the bloc.
An inter-ministerial meeting took place in Hanoi on January 8, to review the results of Vietnam’s ASEAN cooperation in 2015 and define priorities for 2016.
A forum was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 6 to provide information about the vision, strategies, targets and initiatives for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity to 2025 (MPAC 2025).
The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership issued a Sochi Declaration, affirming their commitment to moving towards a strategic partnership
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
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.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
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.
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.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
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.
ASEAN connectivity plan reviewed in Indonesia. (Photo: thediplomat.com)
