Asean

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Hanoi for Singapore on Tuesday morning to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit that is scheduled to commence on the afternoon of the same day. PM Phuc and his spouse will participate in the summit and related high-level meetings from November 13 to 15 at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, according to the Vietnam News Agency. They are also accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, along with other senior officials. The 33rd ASEAN Summit is the second summit in 2018 under the ASEAN Chairmanship of Singapore. Leaders of member nations will discuss ways to promote cooperation in economic matters, trade, and infrastructure at the summit themed “Building a resilient and innovative ASEAN." Focus will also be directed on strengthening connectivity to cope with the … [Read more...] about Vietnam premier heads to Singapore for ASEAN Summit

The informal meeting between ASEAN defence ministers and their Japanese counterpart (Source: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - ASEAN defence ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan and the US held informal meetings on November 17, in the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) in Bangkok, Thailand. Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono affirmed that Japan supports the central role played by ASEAN in regional cooperation mechanisms, and wants to tap opportunities to further cooperate effectively with the bloc based on the needs of each side. Japan pledges to help ASEAN improve its capacity, especially in technology, he said, adding that his country will continue to expand cooperation between the two sides on the basis of the upgraded “Vientiane Vision”. ASEAN defence ministers highlighted the increasing relations in many fields between the group and Japan in recent time, while praising efforts and support from the Japanese side for … [Read more...] about ASEAN, partners seek to expand defence cooperation

Containers carrying export goods in the RoK's largest seaport in Busan (Source: Yonhap) Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) is exploring the possibility of forging individual free trade agreements (FTAs) with more ASEAN members in a move to further boost growing economic ties with the region, Yonhap news agency reported, citing a senior trade official of the RoK. The official, who is in charge of free trade policy at the RoK’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said the country is reviewing the possibility of FTAs with some of the five countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, as part of efforts to promote bilateral economic cooperation. However, he declined to elaborate on specific countries that could be shortlisted for potential free trade deals with the RoK. The RoK has a free trade agreement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but it has been pushing for separate free trade deals with individual members of the … [Read more...] about RoK promotes economic relations with ASEAN countries through FTAs

This is an opportunity for Vietnam to promote its role, unite ASEAN countries in realizing the bloc’s common goals and initiatives, and propose new initiatives to strengthen defense cooperation between ASEAN countries and their partners. As a member of ASEAN, Vietnam has always been active and proactive in participating in multilateral defense-security mechanisms within the ASEAN framework. In fact, the country has participated actively and responsibly in ADMM and ADMM+ as well as in other regional and inter-regional defense and security forums. General Ngo Xuan Lich (L) leading a high-ranking military delegation to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the sixth ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) in Bangkok, Thailand Vietnam also actively proposed initiatives, and contributes to promoting defense and security cooperation between ASEAN with its partners by engaging in specific activities and action programs. … [Read more...] about Vietnam has opportunity to demonstrate its capacity as it chairs ASEAN in 2020

Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh. — VNA/VNS Photo Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh talks to Vietnam News Agency about ASEAN-Việt Nam co-operation and the roles of Việt Nam as ASEAN Chairman in 2020. How do you assess co-operation between ASEAN and Việt Nam, especially in terms of economics, one of three pillars of the bilateral co-operation? Việt Nam became an ASEAN member in 1995 after the country had its embargo lifted and commenced its comprehensive and extensive reform. Regarding global integration, Việt Nam’s participation in border trade, ASEAN and ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1996 were the first steps to realise the resolution of the seventh Party Congress which looks towards external relation strategies on the basis of multilateralism, diversification and considers economic co-operation as an important foundation. Việt Nam’s development serves as a foundation for … [Read more...] about Việt Nam makes important contributions to ASEAN economic co-operation: minister