UN Secretary General optimistic about summit’s results
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on February 28 praised the summit between US President Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un as courageous diplomacy.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AP)
Hanoi (VNA) – United NationsSecretary General Antonio Guterres on February 28 praised the summit between USPresident Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leaderKim Jong-un as courageous diplomacy.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric saidGuterres appreciates the effort that was made in those discussions, regardlessof the results.
The UN Secretary General added that thecourageous diplomacy has established the foundation to advance sustainablepeace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
He voiced his hope that discussions betweenthe US and the DRPK will continue in that direction.
Dujarric said that no one, and thatincludes the secretary-general, ever thought that the process of engaging withthe DPRK would be an easy one.
Earlier, the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnamended earlier than expected and the two leaders of the DPRK and the US did not reachany agreement, with no set plans for a third meeting.-VNA
The Japanese government is working to collect detailed information related to the recently concluded second summit between US President Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said.
The second summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi on February 27-28 made meaningful progress, according to the Republic of Korea’s Presidential Office (Blue House).
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he deeply regrets that no agreement was reached between US President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un.
Vietnam’s role and position was recognised and highly appreciated by leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States of America (USA), as well as the international community, the spokesperson of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
Foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Yong Ho called an impromptu press conference on February 28 night in Hanoi following the DPRK-USA summit.
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).
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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.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AP) 
