Asean countries flags

The 26th ASEAN-RoK dialogue was held in Seoul on July 1. (Photo: VNA) Seoul (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) affirmed the importance it attaches to relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 26th ASEAN-RoK dialogue in Seoul on July 1. The RoK’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yeo Seung-bae and Ambassador Vu Ho , acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, co-chaired the event, the first in-person dialogue between ASEAN and a partner after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides reviewed their relationship, outlined cooperation orientations and compared notes on regional and international issues. The RoK said it backs ASEAN’s centrality and pledged to coordinate with the bloc in implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through practical cooperation programmes and activities. The country spoke highly of ASEAN’s contributions to peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region over the past years, saying … [Read more...] about RoK attaches importance to relations with ASEAN

At the dialogue, the RoK side affirmed the importance it attaches to relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Also, it supports ASEAN’s centrality and pledges to coordinate with the bloc in implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific region through practical cooperation programs and activities. The RoK highly valued ASEAN’s contributions to regional peace, cooperation, and prosperity over the past years. Addressing the event, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasized that the RoK is a strategic partner of ASEAN and the country has made significant contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community across three pillars. He suggested the two sides increase cooperation activities towards the people, especially in response and recovery efforts, and work to ensure inclusive growth, and harmonious and sustainable development. The two sides highlighted multilateral trade and economic links, and pledged to effectively implement the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement … [Read more...] about 26th ASEAN – RoK Dialogue takes place in Seoul

Steel roll production lines at Hoa Phat Steel Sheet Co., Ltd, located in the Pho Nui A Industrial Park in the northern province of Hung Yen. Steel is one of key export products from Viet Nam to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh Vietnamese businesses have many opportunities to increase export goods to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, according to the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, deputy director of the Export Support Center, said that Viet Nam had many favourable conditions for exporting goods to Thailand and Laos because the three countries were close geographically, and members of various free trade agreements. To meet the demand of customers in Thailand and Laos, domestic enterprises are recommended to export goods reaching technical standards and to have import certificates from authorities. They also need to apply advanced technology in processing and preserving products to ensure the quality of … [Read more...] about VN Trade Promotion Department lauds ASEAN export opportunites

Illustrative image (Source: asean.org) Jakarta (VNA) - ASEAN health ministers and economic ministers have adopted the ASEAN Pharmaceutical Regulatory Policy (APRP). The adoption marks a new milestone in working towards the longer-term target to establish and adopt a common policy that provides a basis for structuring regulatory systems for pharmaceutical products across ASEAN, according to the ASEAN Secretariat. This will not only enable the reduction of trade barriers and enhance harmonisation of regulatory requirements and collaboration between regulators but also to ensure timely access to high quality, safe and efficacious pharmaceutical products. The APRP has been developed by ASEAN member state with the support of the EU funded ARISE Plus project . It has been a collaborative effort of officials representing the Health and Economic Sectors and is a significant step milestone in realising the vision for the market integration of the pharmaceutical sector in … [Read more...] about ASEAN pharmaceutical regulatory policy adopted

Addressing the event, Assistant Foreign Minister and Head of SOM Canada Paul Thoppil affirmed that his country always attaches great importance to 45-year-ties with ASEAN, and underlined that ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region play a core role in the Indo-Pacific Strategy that Canada is going to announce. He said Canada hoped to engage deeper into regional cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms. In order to celebrate the 45-year partnership between the two sides (1977-2022), Thoppil proposed organizing an ASEAN-Canada Commemorative Summit in late 2022 in Cambodia and lift up their ties to a strategic partnership. The ASEAN member countries lauded Canada’s cooperation and support to the association over the years, including a commitment of contributing 3.5 million CAD (2.7 million USD) in five years to the ASEAN Fund for COVID-19 Response, 2 million CAD (1.54 million USD) to the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management, and 8.5 million CAD … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Canada seek ways to foster partnership

At the informal meeting between defense ministers of ASEAN and Japan, Japanese Minister of Defense Kishi Nobuo affirmed that Japan supports ASEAN’s centrality in regional cooperation mechanisms. He suggested the two sides strengthen defense cooperation in the fields that are important to ASEAN, including improvement of maritime security, human resource quality, cyber security, and response to impacts of climate change on regional security. Head delegates of ASEAN highly appreciated Japan’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. They thanked Japan for providing vaccine and giving other support for ASEAN countries in the COVID-19 fight efforts. They stressed that they back Japan’s Vientiane Vision 2.0 on promoting defense cooperation with ASEAN, creating a driving force for the maintenance of regional peace, stability and security. Addressing the ASEAN-Japan Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting, Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang spoke highly of the … [Read more...] about ASEAN defense ministers meet with Japanese, Chinese counterparts

ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi (R) and Australian Ambassador Will Nankervis show the signed MoU. (Photo: asean.org) Jakarta (VNA) - ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and Australian Ambassador to ASEAN Will Nankervis have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4 ASEAN Futures Initiative). In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Lim said not only does it intend to address complex regional challenges such as health security, along with promoting the circular economy, the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative will also support the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and enable greater support for cross-sectoral initiatives across all three ASEAN Community pillars. This expansion includes the ASEAN Political Security and the Socio-Cultural Communities, as well as the ASEAN Economic Community supported under Australia for ASEAN – Economic and Connectivity, the successor programme to the … [Read more...] about MoU on Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative signed

The ASEAN Para Games 2022 is a qualifier for athletes to win tickets to Paralympic Paris 2024. Some 155 Vietnamese athletes with disabilities will attend the 11th Southeast Asian Para Games (ASEAN Para Games 2022) in Indonesia next month, according to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Vietnamese delegation will include one guiding athlete, 18 coaches, two doctors, and 13 support personnel. The rest are Vietnamese parasports athletes who will compete in eight events: track and field, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, and archery. On July 23, a departure ceremony will be held to see off the Vietnamese delegation at the National Sports Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City. It is expected that on July 26 or 27, the Vietnamese delegation will join the Games. Weightlifter Le Van Cong is the golden hope of Vietnam's disabled team at the ASEAN Para Games 2022 in … [Read more...] about Some 155 Vietnamese athletes to partake in ASEAN Para Games 2022

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – There is still room for Vietnamese exports to grow in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market , including rice, the country's major export. However, it is necessary for enterprises to review the import demand of each country, pay attention to brand building as well as enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice, experts said. ASEAN 's 700-million market has a lot in common with Vietnam in terms of culture and habits, Vietnamese rice has a lot of potential in this market. However, because the country has steadily moved to produce higher-quality rice, it will be difficult to compete with affordable brands from India, Myanmar and Pakistan in the future. potential for exporting Vietnamese rice to Singapore is still very large, Singapore is a choosy market with strict requirements for quality and very competitive prices. That is why exporters must pay special attention to this factor./. VNA … [Read more...] about Import demand should be reviewed to boost rice export to ASEAN market: experts

An overview of the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) - The 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) kicked off on June 22 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, under the chair of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh. He underscored the need for ASEAN to maintain strength and resilience, in the context of facing many challenges such as competition between major powers, transnational crime, terrorism, security, climate change and pandemics, saying the meeting is an effective forum for practical cooperation in the region to tackle emerging challenges. Defence Minister Phan Van Giang led a Vietnamese delegation of Vietnam to attend the 16th ADMM. (Photo:VNA) Addressing the event, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang said Vietnam’s support for Cambodia as the ASEAN Chair 2022, adding that the successful organisation of the ADMM and ADMM Plus meetings shows solidarity and unity within ASEAN. On the sidelines of the 16th ADMM, the … [Read more...] about ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting opens in Cambodia