The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has announced that the country is taking the lead in food security cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Seoul (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ministry of Agriculture,Food and Rural Affairs (MAFℱRA) has announced that the country is taking thelead in food security cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).
MAFRArevealed that the country plans to supply 2,000 tonnes of rice for three ASEANmember states, including Philippines (750 tonnes), Myanmar (750 tonnes) and Laos(500 tonnes) through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR)agreement. Thejoint rice reserve among ASEAN member states and the RoK, China and Japan aimsto ensure food security and provide emergency support in a time of foodshortage or natural disaster events. Each member country agrees to reserve an amount of rice in advance. It is a public reserve system that provides sales, lending, and donation in times of emergency. The RoK is doubling the amount of rice aid to strengthenfood security in the ASEAN region and providing 2,500 tonnes of rice toMyanmar, which was seriously affected by the typhoon in May. After joining the APTERR in 2017, the countryhas provided a total of 19,000 tonnes of rice to APTERR members, becoming thebiggest donor, accounting for 60% of the total rice reserve (32,000 tonnes)./.
Some 10,000 tonnes of rice donated by the Republic of Korea were handed to 10 storm-hit central and Central Highland provinces in Dai Loc district, the central province of Quang Nam on March 21.
The 40th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) opened in Hanoi on October 11, with 23 plans of action and cooperation on the agenda.
Laos has called on ASEAN nations and regional stakeholders to further strengthen cooperation to alleviate poverty and ensure food security in the region, reported the Vientiane Times on May 10.
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are planning on reaffirming their commitments to ensure food security in case of emergency at a special summit in December commemorating their 50 years of friendship, Kyodo News reported on August 28.
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.
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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.
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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.
RoK and ASEAN flags (Photo: aseanvietnam.vn) 
