Southeast Asian countries continue measures against COVID-19
The Lao Ministry of Health said on September 24 that in the past 24 hours, the country recorded 434 new cases of COVID-19, of which 406 were community infections.
A street near Patuxay monument park is partially blocked in downtown Vientiane, Laos on September 20. (Photo: XINHUA/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)𒊎 – The Lao Ministry of Health said on September 24 that in the past 24 hours, the country recorded 434 new cases of COVID-19, of which 406 were community infections.
The capital Vientiane continues to have the highest number of community infections with 229 cases, mainly in outbreaks at garment factories. To date, the total coronavirus caseload in Laos has reached 21,080, including 16 deaths.
As the number of community infections continues to rise, competent agencies have increased checkpoints in Vientiane capital to ensure that pandemic prevention regulations are strictly followed. People are urged to stay at home, except for going out to buy food, medicine or visit the hospital.
In addition, Laos will allow the use of rapid testing equipment approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the list of urgent use in a bid to reduce pressure on laboratories.
In Cambodia, meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen has decided to suspend the Pchum Ben ceremony across the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The decision was made after a sudden increase in the number of new COVID infections at many temples in Phnom Penh after two days of Pchum Ben due to mass gatherings.
Although the celebrations were canceled, the three-day public holiday for the Pchum Ben festival from October 5 to 7 will be maintained, Hun Sen said.
Singapore has decided to reintroduce distancing measures during the “Strengthening Alert” which runs from September 27 to October 24, according to Singapore’s inter-ministerial task force for COVID-19.
Accordingly, diners are once again limited to groups of two – instead of up to five – and companies directed to make working from home the default setting.
The task force said if the current trends continue, Singapore’s daily case numbers could hit 3,200 next week. The country reported 1,504 new cases on September 23, the highest daily number so far.
Meanwhile, Thailand's National Commission on Infectious Diseases has approved a reduction of the quarantine period for foreign visitors and reopening some localities after the Sandbox model was piloted at the Phuket resort island.
♏ Director of the Department of Disease Control under Thai Ministry of Health Opas Karnkawinpong said that the two-week quarantine requirement for vaccinated foreign visitors has been reduced to 7 or 10 days only applied to those arriving by air. Those who arrived in Thailand by land or are not fully vaccinated will still undergo a 14-day quarantine and take two RT-PCR tests./.
The Cambodian Health Ministry on September 13 reported 629 more COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, including 123 imported ones, bringing the total infections to 100,133.
Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai will begin implementing their tourism reopening plans on October 1 as planned, Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has confirmed.
Laos logged a total of 467 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours including 383 local transmissions, the highest ever daily tally since the pandemic broke out in the country.
Laos has completely locked down four central districts in its capital city of Vientiane in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, while Malaysia has planned to offer booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines to frontline forces and the elderly to increase their immunity.
The Lao Ministry of Health said that in the past 24 hours, the country recorded 214 new cases of COVID-19; of which there were 162 community infections.
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.
A street near Patuxay monument park is partially blocked in downtown Vientiane, Laos on September 20. (Photo: XINHUA/VNA) 
