The 3rd Asian Para Games opened in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta on October 6. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - The 3rd AsianPara Games opened in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta on October 6 with spectacularart performances themed "We Are One".
The opening ceremony started with visual effects of Indonesian traditionalbatik art, followed by a whipping dancer performing a countdown with batikpatterns on the curved screen.
A male dancer in a wheelchair dancedwith a female partner, meaning the harmonious unity of a society that acceptseach other, regardless of their differences, kicked off the marching ofathletes, the center piece of the opening ceremony.
During October 6-13 event, about3,000 athletes from 43 countries and territories across Asia will compete in 18sports, including track and field, swimming, badminton, wheelchair basketball,wheelchair volleyball and chess.
The Vietnamese delegation comprises75 members, including 52 athletes and 11 coaches and caretakers.
They will compete in seven out of 18sports, namely swimming, track and field, weightlifting, chess, badminton,table tennis and judo.
Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Paralympic Association VuThe Phiet, head of the delegation, said Vietnamese athletes aim to learn frominternational friends and promote the country’s image at the continentalsporting event.
The delegation is determined to earnoutstanding achievements, particularly in athletics, swimming, andweightlifting, in which Vietnam has gained high results in major internationalcompetitions, he noted.
The Asian Para Games, which followsthe Asian Games (ASIAD) every four years, aims to foster friendship,solidarity, and mutual understanding among regional countries.
At the previous Asian Para Games in2014, Vietnam won nine gold, seven silver, and 13 bronze medals, finishing 10thin the overall medal tally.–VNA
Indonesia’s Asian Para Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INAPGOC) is training some 7,500 volunteers in how to communicating and interacting with athletes and officials of the Asian Para Games scheduled for October.
Vietnam’s flag was hoisted at the athlete village in Jakarta capital of Indonesia at a ceremony on October 5, marking the official presence of the Vietnamese sports delegation to the 2018 Asian Para Games.
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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).
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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.
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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 3rd Asian Para Games opened in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta on October 6. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
