ASEAN information ministers discuss digital community
The 15th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) and related meetings opened on March 12 under the theme “ASEAN: A Digital Community with Accessibility for All”.
The 15th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) and related meetings is hosted by Thailand on March 12
Bangkok (VNA) – The 15th Conference of the ASEAN MinistersResponsible for Information (AMRI) and related meetings opened on March 12under the theme “ASEAN: A Digital Community with Accessibility for All”.
As host of the 15th AMRI, Thailand – the Chair of the AMRI during 2020-2022emphasised efforts to promote and upgrade the joint operations by ASEAN membercountries in effective communication management, especially in times of crisis,such as the COVID-19 situation.
Chairing the virtual meeting, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s OfficeAnucha Nakasai proposed that the ten ASEAN member states cooperate indeveloping information exchange mechanisms and in issue management, so thatinformation to be exchanged between them will be accurate, transparent and upto date, and people in ASEAN will not fall prey to fake news andmisinformation.
Thailand pushed for the adoption of guidelines to promote broadcasting accessservices, namely closed captions, audio description, and sign languageinterpretation, for all groups of people, including the vulnerable population.The guidelines will build on the work of ASEAN on the migration of analog todigital television broadcasting.
The same day, the 6th Conference of ASEAN Plus Three Ministers Responsible forInformation (6th AMRI 3) was held via videoconference, which drew theparticipation of representatives from ASEAN member states, China, the Republicof Korea and Japan.
As the next chair of the AMRI 3 in 2022, Vietnam informed the participants of theschedule of the 7th AMRI 3 in 2022.
The 15th AMRI and related meetings are scheduled toendorse three important documents: the Framework for Developing DigitalReadiness among ASEAN Citizens, proposed by Singapore; the Framework forPromoting Accessibility for All in ASEAN Digital Broadcasting, proposed byThailand; and the Joint Media Statement for the 15th AMRI and Related Meetings./.
The 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat took place on March 2 and 3 via videoconference, ushering the first high-level engagement among ASEAN economic ministers under Brunei’s chairmanship.
Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, attended the 22nd meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (ACJCC) via videoconference on March 5.
China is ready to work with ASEAN to build an even closer community with a shared future, and open up another three decades of even greater cooperation, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a press conference on the nation’s foreign policy and external relations.
The 11th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting (AMOM-11) was held via videoconference on March 10 under the chair of Brigadier General Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abd, Joint Force Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Cuba on March 11 held a virtual conference to evaluate cooperation potential between the two sides.
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.
The 15th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) and related meetings is hosted by Thailand on March 12 
