ASEAN Regional Forum to welcome US – DPRK peace talks
Ministers attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok in August will welcome recent talks between leaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un meet at their summit held in Hanoi in February. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi(VNA) – Ministers attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok, Thailand in August will welcome recent talks betweenleaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
They will call for dialogue among concern countries to realise the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.
The ARF, to beheld in the Thai capital on August 2, gathers 27 foreign ministers, including those of the US, China, DPRK,the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, to discuss security issues.
The draftchairman’s statement seen by Japan-based Kyodo News welcomes initiativesand efforts made by the RoK, the USand China to promote dialogue with the DPRK.
"We urgedall concerned parties to resume peaceful dialogue and continue working towardthe realisation of lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised KoreanPeninsula, including through the full and expeditious implementation of thePanmunjeom Declaration, the Pyongyang Joint Declaration and the Joint Statementby the US and DPRK leaders," it said.
At their summit on April 27 lastyear, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and RoK President Moon Jae In issued thePanmunjeom Declaration calling for denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula andefforts to formally end the 1950-1953 Korean War.
In their summit last September, the two leaders signedthe Pyongyang Joint Declaration, in which Kim pledged to Moon that the DPRK will permanently dismantle its majornuclear complex if the US takes corresponding actions.
The ARF comprises the 10 ASEANstates, China, Japan, the United States, Russia, DPRK, the RoK, India,Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union, Papua New Guinea,Bangladesh, East Timor, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.–VNA
The Korean Central Television of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on March 6 aired a documentary on the recent second summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, reaffirming the DPRK’s willingness to continue negotiations despite the talks’ breakdown without a deal.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s state media on March 8 acknowledged for the first time the fruitless summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump last week.
Tourism officials of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have urged Vietnamese travellers to seize the golden opportunity to visit the country following a summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi last month.
Addressing the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador Simon D.I. Soekamo, the rotating Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, highlighted the bloc's spirit of friendship and solidarity, and reaffirmed ASEAN's core values of peace, stability, and prosperity through cooperation and dialogue.
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
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.
US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un meet at their summit held in Hanoi in February. (Photo: VNA)
