This was the outcome of the 3rd meeting of the Laos - Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) on August 13, within the official visit to the Philippines by Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane.
Lao FM Thongsavanh Phomvihane (L) and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro (Photo: //kpl.gov.la/)
Hanoi (VNA) – Laos and the Philippines have agreed to further beef up their cooperation in various fields to bring practical benefits to both countries and their people.
This was the outcome of the 3rd meeting of the Laos - Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) on August 13, within the official visit to the Philippines by Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane.
Co-chaired by Lao FM Thongsavanh Phomvihane and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, the meeting reviewed bilateral relations and set future cooperation orientations to tighten and further strengthen good cooperation between the two nations.
The two sides reviewed their cooperation in various fields, including politics, defence – security, economy, trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, energy, technology, communications, education, culture, and society. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
On the occasion, the officials signed the Minutes of the 3rd JCBC, a key document that will serve as a foundation for both foreign ministries and relevant sectors to explore further cooperation opportunities, particularly in clean energy, modern agriculture, trade, investment, tourism, among others.
💛 A special logo was unveiled to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations betweenn the two Southeast Asian nations./.
The two sides inked many agreements covering areas such as defence and security, maritime cooperation, trade, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, science and technology, digital technology, tourism, peaceful uses of the outer space, and cultural exchange.
In a post on Truth Social shortly afterward, Trump said that while the Philippines will open up completely to US goods, he will still impose a 19% tariff on products from the Southeast Asian country, a major exporter of high-tech items and apparel.
The Japanese Government hopes that the transfer of used destroyers to the Philippines will qualify as a form of defence cooperation, as the ships would be modified to meet the specific operational needs of the Philippine side.
Police apprehended one suspect and seized a 22-wheel truck registered in Vientiane, which had been specially modified to hide and transport the illicit substances.
As the implementation of the regional ASCC Blueprint 2025 and national Project 161 draws to a close, ministries, sectors, and localities have been actively sharing information, exchanging lessons learned, and discussing challenges faced during the implementation process.
Vietnam's modern political image, both domestically and internationally, is becoming clearer and more prominent than ever. Vietnam is pursuing a well-defined reform strategy that is being actively promoted and implemented, reflecting the nation’s commitment to real and meaningful change.
Tokyo will also support Japanese firms in conducting trials in Indonesia to test the speed and security of their equipment. Securing telecom infrastructure contracts there will mark the first entry of Japanese players into this market.
The meeting welcomed ADB’s readiness to invest up to 10 billion USD of its own resources over the next decade in support of the APG, including crossborder interconnections, and other APG-related investments (domestic grid strengthening and renewable energy for power export). It also also welcomed investment from the WB through its 2.5 billion USD "Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (ASET-MPA)" programme, approved in 2024 to ramp up renewable energy and promote power trade across the region.
Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia found the small, chipped tools, used to cut little animals and carve rocks, under the soil in the region of Soppeng in South Sulawesi. Radioactive tracing of these tools and the teeth of animals found around the site were dated at up to 1.48 million years ago.
ASEAN needs about 422 million USD, of which 290 million USD is for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and more than 100 million USD for adaptation efforts
In an article published on its website on August 12, the institute underlined that tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death in Southeast Asia.
The news agency quoted Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo as saying that the NCCP directly supports the objectives of MyDIGITAL and the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint by unlocking real economic potential, apart from providing a clear direction for the country’s digital transformation journey.
Army battalions comprising thousands of soldiers have been deployed, focusing on agriculture and health tasks throughout Indonesia, particularly in remote areas.
The exemption applies to those who had previously been granted work permits under Section 64 of the Alien Working Management Act 2017, but are unable to return to Cambodia due to the ongoing border control measures between the two countries.
The central bank has said the Thai economy might have grown about 3% annually in the second quarter of 2025 but would feel the impact of US tariffs and weakening consumption later this year.
Speaking at the ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference hosted by Malaysia on August 13, the Malaysian Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the National TVET Council, called on ASEAN member states to promptly address the growing demand for a workforce skilled in digital technology and green transition.
The projects will be managed by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP). Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the government is targeting the construction of 100 GW of solar power plants, creating a large market for the domestic battery industry.
Deputy for Meteorology at the BMKG Guswanto informed that the system utilises data from several sources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to produce fire risk maps marked with green, orange, and red indicators, meaning relatively safe, high potential and active fires, respectively.
The state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam from August 10–13 not only marked a significant leap in Vietnam – RoK relations, but also contributed to advancing peace and prosperity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc is stepping up both intra- and extra-regional cooperation toward this goal.
The one-stop centre is part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of US tariffs, and more proactive measures will be rolled out to safeguard Thai exporters’ competitiveness and strengthen their position in the global market.
A team of ASEAN military attachés, led by the Malaysian military attaché to Thailand, is scheduled to visit Ubon Ratchathani province and the 2nd Army Region area on August 14. The purpose of their visit is to observe the situation and assess the impact on local communities.
Indonesia has officially launched its Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SPK) through a collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Ministry of Finance, and the Financial Services Authority (OJK).
