Vietnam’s chairmanship plays part in US-ASEAN ties: Indian professor
The United States has intensified its interactions with ASEAN this year partly because Vietnam has been assuming ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, said Prof. Pankaj Jha from India’s O.P. Jindal Global University in his article published on modernpolicy.eu on December 22.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on October 30, 2020. (Photo: US Department of State)
Hanoi (VNA) – The United States hasintensified its interactions with ASEAN this year partly because Vietnam hasbeen assuming ASEAN 2020 Chairmanship, said Prof. Pankaj Jha from India’s O.P.Jindal Global University in his article published on modernpolicy.eu onDecember 22.
According to the professor, during the 33rd US-ASEAN Dialogue, held inWashington DC on August 4, it was expressed that the US-ASEAN strategicpartnership was important for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The United States has buttressed the need for clear and transparent rules basedon the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and commitment to the 2016arbitration tribunal ruling.
Under the chairmanship of Vietnam, ASEAN has been able to address the COVID-19pandemic and the US has expressed faith in ASEAN resilience againstunsustainable debt. The US had declared more than 87 million USDfor providing emergency health, medicines and assistance to combat thecoronavirus in Southeast Asia.
One of the achievements in the year 2020 has been the US-ASEAN smart citiespartnership which would promote better understanding on transportation, connectivityand water management in selected cities in the region. The IT alliance programmebetween the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and 11 Vietnameseuniversities would help modernise Vietnamese technology and engineeringinstitutes and promote Vietnam as an emerging regional technological hub.
It seems that the year 2020 has been a milestoneyear for developing better relationships between the US and Vietnam and alsoinvolving US in ASEAN activities. The number of projects as well as assistanceprogrammes that the US has announced in the year 2020 clearly outlines the factthat the global power would look into this region with more focus, particularlyin the emerging geopolitical challenges and the tensions in East Sea, thearticle said./.
The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the US Trade Representative (USTR) Consultations took place virtually on August 27 as part of the 52nd meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM-52).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 30 received US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who is on an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
ASEAN wishes to enhance effective cooperation and close coordination with the international community and partners, including the US, in order to promptly and effectively cope with emerging challenges, including the COVID-19, thus maintaining a stable environment for countries to develop sustainably.
The strategic partnership between the US and ASEAN representing the aspirations of nearly a billion of people has never been stronger and is a partnership of “free, equal and independent nations” which respect one another’s sovereignty.
Vietnam is jubilantly enjoying “the wheel of globalisation,” said Trinh Minh Anh, Chief of Office at the National Steering Committee on International Integration in Economy.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
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.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on October 30, 2020. (Photo: US Department of State) 
