Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA)▨ – Malaysia is actively developinga strategy to attract more than 5 million tourists from China this year.
According to Director-General of the Malaysian Tourism PromotionBoard (Tourism Malaysia) Ammar Abd Ghapar, the strategy includes increasingflight frequencies from China and encouraging new airlines in the country toconsider promoting Malaysia as a top destination of choice. Speaking after welcoming Loong Air's inaugural flight fromHangzhou, China, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on February 2, the official said that Malaysia is encouraging more charter flights fromChina to implement the initiative and leveraging with travel agents andairlines to increase the frequency of flights from maybe twice a week to thetarget of four flights a week. He said the target is also in line with the50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysiaand China this year, in addition to boosting tourism efforts for Visit MalaysiaYear 2026. He was also optimistic that Tourism Malaysia can reach thetarget of between 5 million and 7 million Chinese tourists for thisyear, which means a five-fold increase on last year’s Chinese arrivals, in linewith the 30-day visa exemption initiative for Chinese and Indian tourists whichstarted on December 1, 2023. Earlier, Tourism Malaysia Deputy Chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hinsaid China is a key tourist source market to Malaysia and remains in the topsix markets for tourist arrivals into Malaysia. In 2023, Malaysia received about 1.4 million Chinese touristsand in total about 18 million international tourist arrivals with 14.02 billionUSD in tourism expenditure. Yeoh Soon Hin said that the new route from Hangzhou, new routesand package flights connecting first- and second-tier cities in China withMalaysia are expected to be able to meet the growing demand of tourists fromChina. Loong Air plans to operate three flights per week on Tuesdays,Thursdays, and Saturdays from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to KLIAand round trip in the opposite direction./.
Malaysia has so far recorded more than 100,000 registered electric vehicles (EV) and is expected to witness potential growth in EV sales through end-2023, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
The Malaysian national news agency Bernama on January 15 published an interview with Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh, under the headline "Vietnam, Malaysia to forge stronger defence, security ties after golden anniversary”.
Malaysia’s economy grew at a slower-than-estimated pace in the fourth quarter of 2023, as exports to China fell, signaling that a firmer recovery is taking longer than expected.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia's 17th King in a solemn ceremony at the national palace on January 31, marking an important moment in the history of the constitutional monarchy in the Southeast Asian country.
President Vo Van Thuong on January 31 sent his congratulations to Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar on his ascension to the throne as the 17th King of Malaysia.
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.
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
