Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto (C), and Anies Baswedan strike a pose for the cameras after the first presidential debate 2024 concluded in Jakarta on December 12, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Candidates in Indonesia’spresidential election held the second debate on January 7 where they discusseddefence, geopolitics and diplomatic issues.
The candidates are Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, formergovernor of Central Java province Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta Governor AniesBaswedan.
๊ Prabowo, who is consideredthe most potential presidential candidate, said that if elected, he will striveto maintain positive relationships with all global powers in line withIndonesia’s "non-aligned" foreign policy and pursue a "goodneighbourliness policy". He also emphasised the importance of bolstering militarypower to defend the country's independence.
Meanwhile, Ganjar touched upon regional issuesand said that it is essential to increase the navy's patrol activities.
For hispart, Anies raised the issue of non-traditional threats such as a risein hacking incidents, thereby pledging to strengthening cyberdefence structure.He is also committed to making Indonesia a decisive leader in the globalsetting through its soft power such as the arts.
Prabowo is ahead of hisrivals in opinion polls since choosing Gibran Rakabuming Raka, theeldest son of President Joko Widodo, as his vice presidential candidate.
🥃 Pranowo is insecond place. Recent surveys suggest that Baswedan, in third place, might havea chance to beat Pranowo and be in the second-round runoff vote.
Indonesia will hold a generalelection on February 14, 2024. Nearly 205 million voters out of a total of morethan 270 million people are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to PresidentJoko Widodo. If none of the threecandidates obtains a majority of votes in the first round, a second round willbe held in June between the two candidates who receive the largest number ofvotes./.
With a strong foundation, Indonesia will generate optimism and demonstrate an ability to recover from many current global challenges, said participants at a December 22 seminar on the country’s 2024 economic prospects.
Indonesia received over 10.4 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2023, marking a 110.8% increase compared to the same period in 2022, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on January 2.
Indonesia's Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has disclosed that the country allocated 455.8 trillion IDR (approximately 29.4 billion USD) from the state budget for infrastructure investment last year.
Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on January 4 said that the value of the country's digital commerce or e-commerce transactions in 2023 is estimated to have reached 533 trillion IDR (34.35 billion USD), a 10.69% increase compared to the previous year.
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.
Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto (C), and Anies Baswedan strike a pose for the cameras after the first presidential debate 2024 concluded in Jakarta on December 12, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA) 
