The Global Centre for Mekong Studies (GCMS) made debut in Cambodia on September 28, aiming to strengthen the academic exchange and support for the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC).
Hanoi (VNA) – The Global Centre for Mekong Studies (GCMS)made debut in Cambodia on September 28, aiming to strengthen the academicexchange and support for the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC).
Cambodian PrinceNorodom Sirivudh, Chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace(CICP), announced the launch of the GCMS during a ceremony attended byrepresentatives of six top think tanks from LMC members.
The six top thinktanks included CICP, the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), the Instituteof Foreign Affairs of Laos, the Myanmar Institute of Strategic andInternational Studies (MISIS), Thailand's Devawongse Varopakarm Institute ofForeign Affairs, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV).
Speaking at thelaunching ceremony, Zuo Wenxing, political counsellor of the Embassy of China inCambodia, said that LMC is a new type of sub-regional cooperation and GCMScould assist LMC’s sustainable development academically.
Sok Siphana, anadvisor of the Royal Government of Cambodia, said that LMC needs new ideas andsupport from all walks of life from the six LMC states in order to buildstronger mutual trust, reduce developmental gap and promote synergy with otherinitiatives in this region.
Meanwhile, RongYing, CIIS's vice president and director of the GCMS-China Center, said GCMS isan open, shared and public platform for all participants.
GCMS will invitefamous experts and related research institutions in this region and around theworld, providing strong intellectual support for LMC by collecting strengthfrom every aspect, he said.
LMC is the firstsub-regional cooperation mechanism that includes all basin countries ofLancang-Mekong River - Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Since its formation in March 2016, the LMC has made steady progress withmany specific cooperation programs that have been underway in the region.-VNA
Vietnam will work with Japan and Mekong nations to implement the 2015 Tokyo Strategy on Mekong-Japan cooperation and the Mekong-Japan Action Plan for Realisation of the New Tokyo Strategy for 2016-18.
The Mekong Delta, the largest granary of Vietnam, must work for smart and sustainable agriculture with high added values, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at the end of the Conference on Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Development of the Mekong Delta held in Can Tho on September 27.
The Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) held a conference on sustainable water management for Mekong River in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 27.
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.
Mekong River flows through Vietnam (Source: WWF) 
