ASEAN summit to focus on community vision, connectivity
The 30th ASEAN Summit will take place in Manila, the Philippines, on April 28 and 29, with the attendance of leaders from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Hanoi (VNA) –The 30th ASEAN Summit will take place in Manila, the Philippines, onApril 28 and 29, with the attendance of leaders from 10 member countries of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With the theme of “Partneringfor change, engaging the world”, this will be the first summit hosted by thePhilippines as the country assumes the rotating Chair of ASEAN in 2017. The summit is scheduledto focus discussions on measures to effectively deploy the ASEAN CommunityVision 2025, master plans to implement the vision on the three pillars ofpolitics-security, economy and socio-culture; the Master Plan on ASEANConnectivity 2025; and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work PlanIII. It will also deliberateways to enhance ASEAN’s connectivity, solidarity, unity and central role andstrengthen relations between ASEAN and its partners, in addition to exchangingviews on regional and international issues of concern. At the summit, theASEAN leaders are expected to sign the ASEAN Declaration on the role of thecivil service as the catalyst to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 andnote five documents, including reports by the ASEAN Secretary General, theASEAN Community Councils for three pillars and the ASEAN Foundation CEO. As usual, the hostPhilippines will issue the Chairman’s Statement of the 30th ASEANSummit. A Vietnamesedelegation, led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will attend the summit,with the aim of pushing for ASEAN’s closer connectivity and better operations; consolidatingthe bloc’s solidarity, unity and central role in the context of complicated developments;and promoting cooperation to bring practical benefits to people, narrow thedevelopment gap and reinforce Vietnam’s relations with other ASEAN members.-VNA
The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and the ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) took place in Manila, the Philippines from March 15-16 to discuss preparations for the 30th ASEAN Summit.
Vietnam will make every effort to effectively implement the work plan of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), which helps narrow the development gap within the ASEAN bloc and between the community and other regions.
About 41,000 security and armed forces personnel of the Philippines are ready to ensure security for the 30th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), announced local authorities on April 23.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed with the draft content of the ASEAN Leaders’ declaration on the role of the civil service as catalyst to achieve ASEAN Vision 2025.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines from April 28-29.
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.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Illustrative image (Source: //www.asean2017.ph) 
