Delegates at the CIDA conference (Source: news.cgtn.com)
Hanoi (VNA)– The second non-government forum on the Conference on Interaction andConfidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) opened Beijing, China, on June 28.
Themed “25Years of CICA: for Asia's Security and Development," the two-day event brings together about 300 politicians,scholars and experts from CIDA member nations, along observers from relevantcountries and organisations.
Participants discussed topics such as seeking common, comprehensive,cooperative and sustainable security in Asia, and setting up securityarchitecture tailored to Asia.
Initiated by Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1992, CICA convened thefirst ministerial meeting in 1999. Themulti-national forum aimsto enhance cooperation towards promoting peace, securityand stability in Asia. It groups 26member nations, with eight countries and four international organisations beingobservers. Vietnam has been an official member of CICA from 2010.
The second non-government forum on CICA was established in May 2014 under theproposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the aim of creating a channel for promoting regionalsecurity management.-VNA
Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan in the energy sector in general and the oil and gas field in particular, the Vietnamese State President said.
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan on May 21 stressed the importance of mutual confidence in ensuring peace and stability, saying that trust can only be built through consistent actions and commitments by nations in line with the United Nations Charter and international law.
Vietnam has affirmed the fundamental principles of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), according to Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a working session with his Kazakh counterpart, Karim Masimov, on May 29 on the margin of the signing ceremony on the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU).
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.
Delegates at the CIDA conference (Source: news.cgtn.com) 
