Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) attends the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat. (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMMRetreat) opened in Bangkok on November 17.
In his remarks, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan thanked the defenceministers and the ASEAN Secretariat office for supporting the country to completeits role as the ASEAN Chair in 2019, and particularly successfully organise theASEAN defence ministers’ meetings.
He spoke highly of the ASEAN member states’ positive roles in promotingsecurity-defence cooperation within the bloc, contributing to the maintenanceof ASEAN’s central role to effectively cope with regional challenges.
The official expressed his hope that the meeting will serve as a venue forcompetent sides to exchange experience and opinions on defence and securityissues, helping further boost collaboration in the field in the time ahead.
As scheduled, defence ministers of the 10 ASEAN member states and eightdialogue partners, namely the US, Russia, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan,India, New Zealand, and Australia, will gather at the ADMM Retreat and the 6th ADMM-Plus on the concept of “Sustainable Security” on November 17-18. They willdiscuss measures to enhance trust and strengthen security cooperation betweenASEAN members and dialogue partners in all respects.
Discussions will be held on cooperation in seven areas of humanitarianassistance and disaster relief, maritime security, military medicine,counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian activities and cybersecurity.
According to the observers, security in the East Sea will become a focus of thedefence leaders.
Vietnam will take over the role of the ADMM and ADMM Plus Chair from Thailandright after the 6th ADMM Plus concludes on November 18.
Vietnam’s participation at theevents, at the invitation of Thai PM andDefence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, showed the country’s active, proactive and responsible engagement incooperation areas within the ADMM and ADMM Plus and efforts to implement thecountry’s initiatives in the ASEAN defence cooperation framework.
Through the events, Vietnam also affirms itsrole and position in the region and the world by involving in multilateralforums as well as promoting common efforts in maintaining peace, stability anddevelopment in the region./.
Vietnam is taking part in a field exercise on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian mine action that opened at the Indonesia Peace and Security Centre in Sentul city on September 16.
Deputy defence chiefs of ASEAN countries and Japan met in Tokyo, Japan from October 8-10 to discuss regional security, the future of the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN’s initiatives for regional cooperation.
A joint anti-terrorism actual-troop drill of member countries of ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) kicked off in Guilin, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on November 13.
Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich on November 16 led a high-ranking military delegation of Vietnam to join the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the sixth ADMM Plus that are taking place in Bangkok, Thailand from November 16-19.
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.
Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) attends the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat. (Photo: VNA) 
