ASEAN leaders agree to strengthen capacity, institutional effectiveness
The 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on strengthening regional capacity and institutional effectiveness on May 10.
Jakarta (VNA) – The 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia adopted the ASEAN Leaders’Statement on strengthening regional capacity and institutional effectiveness onMay 10.
The statement highlighted the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter as wellas consolidationof Community-building process, promotion of the integration process torealise a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN Community.
It reaffirmed ASEAN leaders’ commitment and efforts to maintain ASEAN centrality, unity and relevance amidst the challenges facedby the region and beyond.
ASEAN leaders agreedto redouble efforts tostrengthen ASEAN’s capacity and institutional effectiveness to address currentand future challenges, and respond to crises in a timely manner, in line with the objectives of theASEAN SHIELD as well as harness emerging opportunities in order to acceleratethe momentum of ASEAN Community-building efforts and mitigate potential adverseimpacts towards the realisation of their vision for a peaceful, secure, stable,inclusive, and prosperous region.
They also vowed to further strengthen ASEAN-led mechanisms and process when engaging with external partnersand in an evolving regional architecture centred on ASEAN that is open,transparent, inclusive, and rules-based./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted three core factors to ASEAN’s characteristics, values, vitality and reputation, which are maintaining independence and strategy self-reliance, turning itself into a growth epicenter and better adapting to external shocks. He made the remarks at the opening session of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 10 morning.
The 42nd ASEAN Summit, underway in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Developing Regional Electric Vehicle (EV) Ecosystem on May 10.
President Joko Widodo of current ASEAN Chair Indonesia on May 10 emphasised the role of parliament in formulating the ASEAN 2045 agenda at a dialogue with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
Laos has called on ASEAN nations and regional stakeholders to further strengthen cooperation to alleviate poverty and ensure food security in the region, reported the Vientiane Times on May 10.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA) 
