Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a bilateral meeting on December 16 on the sidelines of the 4th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, northern Laos.
Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (R) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith andChinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a bilateral meeting onDecember 16 on the sidelines of the 4th Mekong-Lancang CooperationForeign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, northern Laos.
Speaking highly of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership, thetwo officials said that the Laos-China cooperation is now at its best, withregular visits by high-ranking delegations from both sides.
The two countries are accelerating the implementation of the signed agreements,including the construction of Laos-China railway, they added.
Wang Yi and Saleumxay Kommasith reached consensus on urging competentauthorities to complete a master plan on building the Laos-China partnershipand the Laos-China economic corridor for signing during the General Secretaryof the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s visit to China in April 2019.
They lauded sound collaboration between the two foreign ministries, saying thatit helps elevate the positions of Laos and China, contributing to maintaining peace,stability and cooperation for regional and international sustainabledevelopment.
The two sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest,affirming to further cooperation in regional and sub-regional cooperationframeworks, especially the Mekong-Lancang cooperation and ASEAN-Chinacooperation.
On the occasion, the Lao foreign minister thanked China for supporting theSoutheast Asian country in implementing projects under the two cooperationframeworks.
Both sides should coordinate closely in preparing for the upcoming visit of theLao Party General Secretary while working to give international status to theKhang district border gate.
The FMs witnessed the signing of two deals on Lao-Chinese interpreter trainingand construction of the Naxaithong secondary and high schools.-VNA
Trade volume between five countries along the Lancang - Mekong river and China’s Yunnan province surge 13.4 percent year-on-year to 81 billion yuan (12 billion USD) in 2017, according to customs of Kunming, capital of Yunnan.
Major media agencies from the six member countries of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) engaged in discussions on July 3 on enhancing communication cooperation to boost tourism in the region.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung lauded growing Vietnam – Laos ties during an interview granted to the media on December 14 on the occasion of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s working trip to Laos from December 16-19.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on December 16 on the occasion of the fourth Mekong – Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, northern Laos.
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.
Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (R) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
