Jakarta (VNA) –🌺 Indonesia has hastened preparations for the 18th Asian Games(ASIAD 18) to ensure the success of the sporting event.
Aforum on the progress of the event was held on November 26-28 with theparticipation of representatives of countries and territories that will competein ASIAD 2018. It was held in Jakarta city and Palembang city of South Sumatraprovince, the event’s two venues. TheGelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, one of the main venues of ASIAD 18, iscurrently undergoing upgrades, with 87 percent of the work completed. Theathletes’ village in Kemayora, north Jakarta with seven buildings to accommodate5,000 people is being built. The Indonesian government has also accelerated theconstruction of some urban railways to serve the event. Meanwhile,South Sumatra Governor Alex Noordin affirmed that most infrastructure projectsin Palembang city will be completed by late December. However, the JakabaringConvention Centre, a tennis court with automatic roof and the 22km-long LightRail Transit transportation facility linking the airport with Jakabering Sport Citywill be done in May 2018. Six10-storey buildings are being constructed in Jakabaring to provideaccommodation for athletes, Noordin added. The city is expected to be thelargest sporting complex in Asia. TheGames are scheduled to take place in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 toSeptember 2, 2018. About 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories are setto compete. It will feature 462 categories of 40 sports, with 32Olympic sports and eight non-Olympic, including bowling, diving, ice skating,kabaddi, squash and sepak takaw, along with mechanical sports like jet skiingand paragliding and martial arts such as jujitsu, kurash, pencak silat, samboand wushu. Indonesiahosted the ASIAD in 1962 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2011.-VNA
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on October 24 held a meeting to discuss preparations on infrastructure for the 18th Asian Games slated for 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra province
Indonesian President Joko Widodo met a delegation of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) led by its chairman Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah to discuss preparation for the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD 18).
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced that the 4x400m medley category for mixed teams will be included among the track events at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 and 2020.
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.
Organisers of the ASIAD 2018 (Photo: VNA) 
