Cambodia, Laos highlight importance of multilateral cooperation in COVID-19 battle
The Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Laos stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in their messages sent to the UN General Assembly’s special session on the pandemic response on December 4.
Cambodians wear face masks to prevent COVID-19 (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Laos stressed theimportance of multilateral cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19pandemic in their messages sent to the UN General Assembly’s special session onthe pandemic response on December 4.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen told thesession that the COVID-19 pandemic should not be politicised as solidarity andunity are indispensable to defeat the disease.
The battle against the COVID-19 should not be taken by anycountry as its own geo-political agenda, he stated, adding that the regional andglobal solidarity and unity are indispensable elements during such a crisisperiod.
Hun Sen said the fight against this global pandemic requires a joint prudentdecision-making, within the framework of multilateralism, by respectinginternational laws and sovereignty of each individual nation with the UnitedNations and the World Health Organization as the core agencies.
In his pre-recorded video statement at this session, Lao PMThongloun Sisoulith highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation indeveloping vaccine against COVID-19 and providing it at a reasonable price.
He called on the international community to support COVAX –a WHO initiative helping ensure a fair access to vaccines against COVID-19.
He said that the Lao Government has imposed prevention andcontrol measures strictly to bring the disease under control, citing statistics as saying that Lao has so far recorded39 infection cases and no fatalities./.
Cambodia has closed all private education facilities across the nation in two weeks as part of its efforts to prevent the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on November 30 issued a 15-day ban of wedding parties and gatherings of more than 20 people, starting from December 1.
The General Assembly of the United Nations is holding a special session on COVID-19 response from December 3-4 in New York. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent his remarks to the session. Following is the full text.
The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) partnered with the Asia Foundation to launch the ASEAN Rapid Assessment on the Impact of COVID-19 on Livelihoods across ASEAN on December 3.
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.
Cambodians wear face masks to prevent COVID-19 (Source: AFP/VNA) 
