Hanoi, (VNA)🃏 – Senator John McCain, whohelped lay the foundation for a cooperative Vietnam-US relationship, passedaway on August 25 (US time) at the age of 81.
McCain himself served in the invadingwar of the US in Vietnam. He joined in the Rolling Thunder air campaign in1967, bombing targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (northern Vietnam). His plane was shotdown on October 26, 1967 and McCain was taken prisoner. He was returned to the US in an exchange of prisoners in 1973. Returning from Vietnam, McCain joined politics and was one of the first personscampaigning for normalization ofUS-Vietnam relations through promoting humanitarian issues such as removingunexploded ordnance left by the war, searching for missing-in-action personnel,supporting people with disabilities caused by the war, and detoxifying areaspolluted by dioxin. In 1994, the US Senate approved a resolution sponsoredby McCain and Senator John Kerry, calling to end the economic sanction againstVietnam, paving the way for the normalization of relations between the twocountries one year later. Following the normalization of bilateral ties, McCainand Kerry visited Vietnam many times to address the issue of Americanmissing-in-action soldiers (POW/MIA). Along with pushing for the normalization of relationswith Vietnam, Senator McCain also supported the Vietnamese community in the US,serving as a bridge between them and the US authorities as well as theVietnamese Government. At a meeting with the Senator in Washington DC onJanuary 21, 2016, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh praised theSenator for his great contribution to the friendly and cooperative relationsbetween the two countries. In reply, McCain said he always attaches importance tothe US-Vietnam relations, and for him, Vietnam has an important position and rolein the region. Senator McCain is one of the persons who have laid thefoundation for the Vietnam-US ties to develop into a comprehensive partnershipwith remarkable progress across the fields, benefiting both countries atpresent.-VNA
National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Gen. Do Ba Ty is leading a high-level delegation of the NA on a working visit to the United States from July 21-27.
Former US Vice President Al Gore has spoken highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements as well as great strides in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership, especially in trade and investment.
Vietnam always considers the US one of the most important partners and wants to push forward the practical and effective development of bilateral comprehensive partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 3.
The Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership has seen remarkable progress over the past few years with important achievements obtained in all areas, but huge potential remains unleashed for the cooperation between the two countries, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc.
Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence, hosted a reception on August 20 for Commanding General of the US Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) Gen. Robert B. Brown.
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.
Senator John McCain (Photo: Reuter) 
