Diplomat proposes ways to beef up India – ASEAN relations
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau has attended workshops themed “Act East through North East” and “Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence” held recently by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of Assam State.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau (Photo: VNA)
New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to India PhamSanh Chau has attended workshops themed “Act East through North East” and “NaturalAllies in Development and Interdependence” held recently by the Indian Ministryof External Affairs and the Governmentof AssamState.
These were the opening events for a series of activities of the India – ASEAN FriendshipYear 2022 on the occasion the 30th founding anniversary of India –ASEAN ties and the 10 years of strategic partnership between the two sides.
Inhis opening speech at the events, Ambassador Chau expressed his impression of developmentand change of Assam, affirming the important role of the state in the “Act East”policy that the Government of India has consistently and actively implemented inrecent years.
The Vietnamese diplomat proposed three solutions tofurther promote relations between India and ASEAN member countries, highlightingthe importance of the air connection to strengthen connectivity between Indiaand the group.
He also pointed out opportunities for cooperationand development investment between India and Vietnam, expressing his hope thatwith the resumption of direct air routes between the two countries after theCOVID-19 pandemic, the trade ties and people-to-people exchange between the twocountries will become stronger, bringing benefits to both nations inparticular, and India and ASEAN in general./.
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel has said that India is expected to export 46 billion USD worth of goods to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the fiscal year 2021-2022, ending in March 2022.
Indian commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on October 8 called for a renegotiation of the India-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) to prevent its misuse by third parties and pushed for a removal of trade and non-tariff barriers that have hurt Indian exports, reported The Economic Times.
Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Riva Ganguly Das has emphasised the need for India and ASEAN to enhance cooperation on cyber security and narrow the digital gap.
Indian Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh has said his country and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) together can develop an entire ecosystem for renewable energy (RE) and explore the joint initiative for building RE manufacturing hubs in the region.
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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.
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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.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau (Photo: VNA) 
