Hanoi (VNA) – The Cambodian Government allowed private schools toreopen from December 29 and public schools to start the new academic year onJanuary 11, 2021.
Thedecision was made following Prime Minister Hun Sen’s announcement that thecountry’s first community outbreak of COVID-19 was over as no locallytransmitted cases had been detected in the last two weeks.
Thefirst community outbreak was confirmed on November 28 after six people of afamily, who reside in both capital Phnom Penh and northwestern Siem Reapprovince, tested positive for the virus. Approximately 19,000 people linked tothe outbreak had been tested, and 41 of them had tested positive for the virus.
However,Hun Sen called on people to continue to be vigilant as the number of COVID-19infections around the world remained high.
OnDecember 29, Lao Airlines announced to suspend all charter flights to and fromother countries until January 23, 2021 to reduce the risk of a second wave ofCOVID-19 triggered by inbound travellers.
Anyoneentering Laos on a humanitarian flight must have all the necessary documentsand spend 14 days at a designated quarantine centre.
The only international route currently in service is a twice-weekly flight between Vientiane and Kunming in southwestern China.
Thetotal number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Laos remains at 41, and 40 of themhave recovered while one remains under observation in the hospital, accordingto the Lao Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile,the Philippines will bar the entry of travellers from 20 countries andterritories from December 30 to January 15, 2021, as it tries to keep out anew, possibly more transmissible variant of the coronavirus.
Thetransport ministry said the ban will cover both foreign travellers and Filipinoswho wish to travel to the Philippines.
The20 countries and territories included in the travel ban are Japan, Australia,Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, the Republicof Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland./.
The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism on December 26 convened a meeting among technical working groups to prepare for the implementation of a 2020-2025 roadmap on the restoration and enhancement of the sector during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Health has lifted its restrictions on restaurants and shops which were ordered to close due to the “November 28 community incident”, Minister of Health Mam Bunheng has said.
Minister of Public Security General To Lam suggested the Government apply measures to prevent people illegally returning to Vietnam given the complex development of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
A health check centre in Cambodia (Source: VNA) 
