The 7th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF-7) was opened in the central city of Da Nang on December 6, gathering over 90 governmental officials and scholars from ten ASEAN nations and eight ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
The 7th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF-7) opens in the central city of Da Nang on December 6.(Photo: VNA)
Da Nang (VNA) – The 7thExpanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF-7) was opened in the central city of DaNang on December 6, gathering over 90 governmental officials and scholars from ten ASEAN nations and eightASEAN Dialogue Partners.
Sea and oceanplay a crucial part in every nation around the world, and marine cooperation has always been given high priority in regionalcooperation mechanism, programmes and plans, Vietnamese Deputy Ministerof Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung stated in his opening remarks at the event.
Dung recognized progress in regional martimecooperation over recent years, highlighting initiatives to response to marineenvironmental pollution, manage ocean waste, combat illegal fishing andsustainably use marine resources.
He alsooutlined multiple challenges facing the region, including transnationalorganised crime at sea, marine pollution, ocean acidification, security andsafety of fishermen and seafarers andescalating tension at sea, particularly in the East Sea.
Thesechallenges are hampering potential and prospects for maritime partnership inthe region, the deputy FM said.
He askedparticipating countries to comprehensively review the maritime cooperation inrecent years and recommend ways to beef up maritime ties in the coming time. Healso called for the forum’sgreater role in coordinating martime cooperation in the region.
Theparticipating nations should also review the adherence to the 1982 UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) anddiscuss ways to ensure all maritime activities on regional waters comply with it, he added.
The EAMF-7 isscheduled to include an open discussion on the 25-year enforcement of the 1982 UNCLOS,and a closed session to exchange views on the regional maritime security andpartnership and to consider recommendations and new initiatives on maritime issues.
Senior officials of the ASEAN member states expressed unanimity for Vietnam’s initiatives to promote political-security cooperation within the ASEAN bloc in 2020 at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM) in Bangkok on November 1.
The Outlook for Indo-Pacific of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was at the focus of attention at a workshop in Ottawa, Canada on November 25, held by the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa.
India and Japan have pledged to cooperate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reach common goals for regional peace and prosperity.
The 9th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF-9) opened in the central city of Da Nang on December 5, seeing the participation of more than 50 delegates from the 10 ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.
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.
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 7th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF-7) opens in the central city of Da Nang on December 6.(Photo: VNA) 
