Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, has co-chaired the 9th meeting of ASEAN-Korea Joint Cooperation Committee (AKJCC) with the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ambassador to ASEAN Kwon Hee-seog.
Participants at the event (Source: Vietnam Mission to ASEAN)
Jakarta (VNA) - Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, has co-chaired the 9th meeting of ASEAN-Korea Joint Cooperation Committee (AKJCC) with the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ambassador to ASEAN Kwon Hee-seog.
During the meeting on May 24, the two sides noted the progress made in the ASEAN-RoK cooperation over the past year, including following up on the outcomes of the 22nd ASEAN-RoK Summit in October 2021 and activities to implement various areas of cooperation under the ASEAN-RoK Plan of Action (2021-2025).
Within the framework of the key cooperation mechanism - the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), 20 projects are being implemented with a total investment of 56 million USD, focusing on five priority areas of education and training, the environment, economic recovery, culture and tourism, and health.
In addition, there are nine projects waiting for approval, including large-scale ones such as “Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN ”(CASA) worth 11 million USD.
On this occasion, the RoK side announced to increase its annual contribution to the fund from 14 million USD to 16 million USD.
The RoK ambassador reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the central role of ASEAN, the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), and promote cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo- Pacific (AOIP).
Ambassador Bang and others ASEAN officials appreciated the close and long-term cooperation commitment of the RoK, while proposing strengthening cooperation in many fields such as education-training, infrastructure cooperation. and connectivity, narrowing the development gap, smart city and sustainable development, climate change and environmental protection.
The two sides also expressed their delight at the upcoming establishment of a series of cooperation mechanisms, including ministerial-level meetings on disaster handling, and infrastructure and smart city.
In March 2022, the two sides inaugurated the ASEAN-RoK financial cooperation centre in Jakarta. They are working together to promote the establishment of two other centres for cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
The Mission of the RoK to ASEAN organised the ASEAN-Korea Business Forum on May 19. It will host forums and seminars on transport, digital transformation, maritime connectivity, labour, and marine waste treatment in 2022./.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have agreed to settle difficulties in customs procedures for more effective implementation of their free trade agreement (FTA), according to the RoK’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival ROUND 2021, hosted by the Korean broadcasting company KBS and sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, will be held online on January 9, 2022, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEAN-Korea Centre, in coordination with the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK), will hold the 9th ASEAN Connectivity Forum on 18-19 January, aiming to further promote mutually beneficial economic partnership.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) has launched an ASEAN - RoK financial cooperation centre in Jakarta, which serves as a gateway for Korean financial firms to enter regional markets and vice-versa.
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.
Participants at the event (Source: Vietnam Mission to ASEAN) 
