Bangladesh foreign minister

The Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) was convened on 2 March 2021 via videoconference, with the view to progress the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, work on an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision, advance ASEAN’s initiatives to respond to and recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, discuss ASEAN’s external relations, as well as exchange views on pressing regional issues of concern. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — An informal meeting via videoconference of foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN member states took place on March 2 and ended with the release of a Chair's Statement. The following is the full text of the document: Chair’s Statement on the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) 1. The Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) was convened on 2 March 2021 via videoconference, with the view to progress the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, work on an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision, advance ASEAN’s initiatives to respond to and recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, discuss ASEAN’s external relations, as well as exchange views on pressing regional issues of concern. 2. In pursuit of strengthening our regional solidarity, we reiterated that the political stability in ASEAN Member States is essential to achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community. We underscored the need to maintain our unity, Centrality, and relevance in the region and to collectively address common challenges. We recognised that the strength of the ASEAN Community lies in putting people at its centre. In this regard, we recall the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, including adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government, respect for fundamental freedoms, and the promotion and protection of human rights. 3. We noted the current progress on developing an ASEAN Community post-2025 vision and acknowledged the …

[Read more...] about ASEAN foreign ministers’ statement on COVID-19 recovery, Myanmar issues

Supplies are being unloaded from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) KC-135R transport aircraft.  (Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/) Singapore (VNA) – Singapore strongly supports efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to improve the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State , and is willing to send more aids to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has stated. The Singaporean FM said that his country has contributed over 1 million SGD as humanitarian aids to both Myanmar and Bangladesh, along with contributions to the ASEAN Coordinating Center for humanitarian assistance on disaster management. Singapore ’s private sector and community organisations have also stepped up to raise funds for the material needs of those in the refugee camps. He expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the delivery of some of this humanitarian assistance. Balakrishnan further pointed out that Singapore has strongly supported ASEAN efforts to help improve ground conditions in Rakhine state, through projects such as the supply of radio receivers to the local community to better disseminate information./. VNA …

[Read more...] about Singapore supports ASEAN’s efforts in improving Rakhine situation

* A batch of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered to Thailand between February and April, said Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday. * Myanmar has approved Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the new coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investments Fund said. * China reported no new locally transmitted mainland COVID-19 case for the first time in nearly two months. * Russia on Monday reported 15,916 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, including 1,728 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 3,983,197. Authorities also reported an additional 407 deaths, raising the official total to 77,068. * The United States could return to full employment in 2022 if it enacts President Joe Biden's 1.9-trillion-US-dollar COVID-19 relief package, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday. * India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,838,194 on Monday even as 11,831 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 155,080 as 84 COVID-19 patients died since Sunday morning. * The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported on Monday 1,690 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total tally to 538,995. The death toll rose to 11,231 after 52 more patients died from the coronavirus epidemic, the DOH said. * Republic of Korea reported 289 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Sunday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 81,185. * Britain will not introduce COVID-19 vaccine passports, but people will be able to seek proof from their doctor if needed for travel to other countries. * US President Joe Biden said the United States would not lift sanctions against Iran unless Tehran stops enriching uranium, according to an interview broadcasted on Sunday. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday that Iran is losing patience with the …

[Read more...] about World News in Brief: February 8