Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Habib El Malki on August 26 officially called on the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to grant Morocco an observer status within the body, according to local media.
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Habib El Malki (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Algiers (VNA) – Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Habib ElMalki on August 26 officially called on the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly(AIPA) to grant Morocco an observer status within thebody, according to localmedia.
He made thestatement at the 40th AIPA General Assembly in Bangkok where he was the guest of honour.
On the sidelines of thisevent, El Malki met with chairpersons of parliaments of ASEAN member countries todiscuss bilateral cooperation and ways to further bolster parliamentarydiplomacy.
It is anopportunity to strengthen relations between Morocco and the bloc and exploreprospects for cooperation given the partnership frameworks established betweenthe Moroccan House of Representatives and some parliarments of ASEAN memberstates.
Morocco is theonly Arab and African country to participate in the AIPA, founded in 1977 with10 member countries and 12 observers.
In his remarksat the assembly’s plenary opening session, El Malki said Morocco stands readyto strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and involve parliamentary diplomacy withthis important region.
The top legislator said that Morocco is a member of different associations likethe African Inter-Parliamentary Union, Pan-African Parliament, adding that thecountry has the status ofMediterranean partner in the NATO parliamentary assembly, the status of partnerfor democracy in the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, inaddition to the observer status in most sub-regional parliamentary assembliesin Latin America.
On the same day, El Malkiheld a bilateral meeting with with Vietnamese National Assembly ChairwomanNguyen Thi Kim Ngan who invited him to attendAIPA 41 in Vietnam next year. - VNA
The 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 40) themed “Advancing Parliamentary Partnership for Sustainable Community” kicked off in Bangkok on August 26.
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) actively supports the regional grouping’s efforts in realizing and associating the ASEAN Vision 2025 with the UN Agenda 2030 on sustainable development, as well as ASEAN’s initiatives in strengthening regional connectivity, especially in environmental protection, climate change response and reduction of plastic waste and ocean debris.
Vietnam always attaches much importance to developing the friendship and all-round cooperation with Morocco, Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan affirmed on August 26.
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin on the sidelines of the 40th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 40) in Bangkok on August 26.
Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau had separate meetings with former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Seok-hyun and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s External Relations Committee Eksavang Vongichit on August 26.
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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Habib El Malki (Photo: AFP/VNA)
