Thailand to host 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
The 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (52nd AMM), Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), and related meetings will take place in Bangkok from July 29 to August 3.
Bangkok (VNA) – The 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Meeting (52nd AMM), Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), and related meetings willtake place in Bangkok from July 29 to August 3.
Thailand’s The Nation newspaper quoted a local seniorofficial as saying the 10-member bloc is ready to discuss with its globalpartners measures to connect and cooperate after adopting its outlook onIndo-Pacific at a summit in June.
As the 2019 ASEAN chair, Thailand will host and facilitatetalks with partners on several issues, including the Rakhine crisis, as well asthe contentious issues related to the East Sea and the Korean Peninsula.
While highlighting connectivity and sustainability in all aspectsof discussion and cooperation, Thailand will also try to accommodate allrelevant issues in the ASEAN meetings next week, the official said.
As scheduled, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs DonPramudwinai will chair the 52nd AMM and co-chair the PMCs and other meetings,which include AMM’s Interface with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission onHuman Rights (AICHR), the 20th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’Meeting, the 9th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Other related meetings include sub-regional meetings such asthe 12th Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting, the 10th Mekong – GangaCooperation Ministerial Meeting, the 9th Mekong – Republic of Korea ForeignMinisters’ Meeting, and the 12th Mekong – Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Attending these meetings will be representatives from morethan 30 countries, including ASEAN member states, ASEAN dialogue partners, ARF non-dialoguepartner members, and guests of the Chair, such as Norway, Peru, Switzerland,and Turkey.-VNA
Thailand’s Culture Minister has led government officials to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss preparations to organize the "237th Year of Rattanakosin City under Royal Benevolence" event from March 8-10.
As Thailand will host the 34th ASEAN Summit from June 20-23, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, called a meeting with relevant agencies to discuss preparations for traffic convenience and safety measures for ASEAN delegates.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attended a special ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Bangkok on June 22.
Marking Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship, the Government Public Relations Department has joined hands with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand to create the “Pride of ASEAN” stamp collection, depicting the cultures and lifestyles of all 10 ASEAN member states across 20 stamps.
The 12th Education Cooperation Week between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China began in Guiyang city of China’s Guizhou province on July 22.
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.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
Illustrative photo (Source: asean2019.go.th) 
