ASEAN Committee in Australia marks bloc’s 55th anniversary
The ASEAN Committee in Canberra held a ceremony on August 24 to celebrate the 55th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Canberra (VNA) – The ASEAN Committee in Canberra held a ceremony on August 24 to celebrate the 55⛦th foꦦunding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Speaking at the event, Cambodian Ambassador and the ACC’s Alternate Chair Chan Rotana said over the past 55 years, ASEAN has affirmed its position and played an increasingly important role in the international arena. The ASEAN Community is now the fifth largest in the world, while Southeast Asia is a region of peace and stability with vibrant economies. Amid unprecedented challenges such as COVID-19, geopolitical and economic uncertainties, ASEAN is determined to maintain solidarity, strive to recover quickly and consolidate sustainability and inclusiveness while continuing to build a vision for the future, he said. Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Jan Adams, for her part, said as the first dialogue partner of ASEAN, Australia highly values the bloc’s strategic role and centrality in Indo-Pacific and the international arena. Given Australia and ASEAN recently established a comprehensive strategic partnership, she suggested both sides work closely together and make the best use of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to overcome challenges. Australia will continue making maximum contributions to ASEAN’s efforts for the sake of peace, stability and common prosperity in the region, she said. Guests at the event also had a chance to enjoy ASEAN’s cultural diversity at handicraft stalls./.
Indonesia’s Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki has asked food retailers to join online business given that the country is expected to become the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia, reaching 4,500 trillion Rp (302 billion USD) in value by 2030.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son on August 23 joined remotely from Vietnam a roundtable for education ministers from ASEAN and China, held as part of the 15th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CACW) underway in Guizhou, China.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Youth Volunteer Forum and ASEAN Plus Youth Volunteer Award opened in the central province of Quang Binh on August 24.
The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold a summit of national leaders for the first time in December to discuss expanding trade and infrastructure assistance as the EU seeks to strengthen ties with ASEAN.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA) 
