30 deputy minister drive

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumasay Kommasith . (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) - Vietnam and Laos have made great contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumasay Kommasith has affirmed. Granting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondents in Laos on the occasion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s 55th founding anniversary (August 8), Saleumasay said that Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, and two years later, Laos also became a member of the group. Since then, the two countries have become active members, making important contributions to the bloc's policy and vision making. Regarding the building of the ASEAN Economic Community, he said that Vietnam is a major country and plays an important role in the region, and has relations with many countries, especially great powers, which is also its direct contribution to the ASEAN … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Laos contribute greatly to ASEAN Community building: Lao Deputy PM

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (Photo: AP) Phnom Penh (VNA) - The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ( AMM-55 ) and related meetings have successfully concluded, with some 30 documents on regional cooperation adopted, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on August 6. "We have reviewed the progress made thus far to strengthen ASEAN's community building, advance regional integration, and enhance our cooperation with external partners," he told a press conference. The official said that over the course of three and a half days, 19 meetings were held back-to-back, with the participation of foreign ministers and representatives from 38 countries. On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ASEAN foreign ministers encouraged the effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. He added that the ministers also stressed the need to strengthen supply … [Read more...] about Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings

The exhibition "ASEAN Cultural Colours" runs until August 12 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi. The exhibition "ASEAN Cultural Colours" opened today at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum to celebrate the 55th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-August 8, 2022). Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong attends the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Photos: Tra My The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the embassies of ASEAN countries in Vietnam, is aimed at further enhancing understanding among the peoples of regional countries and expanding cooperation in economy, investment, culture, and tourism. Visitors to the exhibition will learn about traditional costumes, one of the features of the ASEAN cultural treasures, and see images of landscapes, cultures, countries, people, and heritages as well as sophisticated … [Read more...] about Colorful images of ASEAN on display in Hanoi

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967, marking the start of the process of deepening its integration for peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son From a group of Southeast Asian countries divided by war, through 55 years of construction and development, ASEAN is today one of the most important, prestigious, and successful regional organisations in the world. It has become a shared home for more than 650 million people across all 10 Southeast Asian countries which boast diverse cultural identities, the fifth-largest economic community in the world, and a reliable and important partner of many countries. ASEAN plays a central role in important processes of dialogues, cooperation, and also linkages throughout the region. Shared vision and identity The birth of ASEAN 55 years ago reflected the common aspirations of many countries in the region … [Read more...] about Building on the ASEAN Community

The Government Office last week issued Dispatch No.4648/VPCP-KTTH to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) requiring it to continue proposing a reduction of taxes and fees related to fuel and consumption, especially those that can cause an increase in input costs for production and business. Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure “This aims to help reduce costs and selling prices of products in service of exports, production, and business, contributing to controlling inflation and supporting the government’s monetary policy in the short and medium term,” the dispatch stated. The MoF has also proposed to the government a plan to halve the preferential import tax for petrol and oil from the existing 20 to 10 per cent, in order to help reduce the prices of these items in the local market. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has also submitted to the National Assembly a plan on reducing the special consumption tax and VAT for October. According to the General Statistics … [Read more...] about Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure

Two Vietnamese artists, who were accused of raping a British girl on Majorca island in Spain at the end of June, have returned to Vietnam after a local court returned their passports, Spanish media reported on Sunday. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ta Quang Dong confirmed their return on Monday morning. Spain’s Ultima Hora and Majorca Daily Bulletin newspapers reported on Sunday that the Provincial Court of Palma in Majorca decided to return the passports of two Vietnamese citizens accused of “sexually abusing a 17-year-old” on August 3. No additional information was reported about the conclusions drawn by investigators or the court. The two, a musician and an actor, were arrested on June 25 after a 17-year-old British girl reported an alleged rape at a hotel in Sant Elm, Majorca, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin. She had met the men at a restaurant on June 24. They went to the beach, where she said they began to get intimate, and then came to … [Read more...] about Vietnamese artists accused of raping British girl in Spain return home: culture ministry