ASEAN, Mexico exchange experience in COVID-19 response
Ambassadors and chargé d'affaires of ASEAN countries in Mexico, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, on May 13 had an online exchange with Director General for Asia-Pacific at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs Claudia Franco Hijuelos about the COVID-19 fight in Southeast Asia and Mexico.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong (Photo: VNA)
Mexico City (VNA) – Ambassadors andchargé d'affaires of ASEAN countries in Mexico,including Indonesia,Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailandand Vietnam, on May 13 hadan online exchange with Director General for Asia-Pacific at the MexicanMinistry of Foreign Affairs Claudia Franco Hijuelos about the COVID-19 fight inSoutheast Asia and Mexico.
They also talked about the possibility oforganising diplomatic activities after Mexico lifts lockdown measures atthe end of May.
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoai Duong briefed partipicants of theoutcomes of the special ASEAN and ASEAN+3 summits on COVID-19 response underthe chair of Vietnam– the ASEAN Chair 2020, as well as updated the COVID-19 stiuation in thecountry and its motto of “fighting the pandemic as if fighting the enemy.”
He said with a high sense of community, theinvolvememt of the whole political system and the trust of people in Party andState leadership and direction, Vietnamhas basically pushed back the pandemic and become an example in the fight.
Touching upon the sound traditionalfriendship between Vietnamand Mexico,the ambassador said the National Assembly of Vietnam will present 20,000 facemasks to help Mexican people overcome the COVID-19 crisis.
He also pointed to China’s illegal actions in the East Seain recent time.
Hijuelos affirmed that Mexico attaches great importance toits relations with the ASEAN and highly appreciates the central role of thebloc in the region.
Mexico wants to strengthen coordination with the 10-member grouping in coping with thecomplicated developments of COVID-19, she said.
The official also voiced her desire topromote solidarity and collaboration between Mexico and ASEAN member states inall realms, from diplomacy and economy-trade to cultural exchanges.
She thanked the Vietnamese parliament for showingfaithful solidarity and friendship with the Mexican people during thisdifficult time and on the occasion of celebrating the 45th anniversaryof diplomatic ties (May 19, 1975)./.
The ambassadors of Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia in Mexico have lauded the role that Vietnam took as the Chair of the ASEAN Committee (ACMC) in Mexico in the first half of this year in strengthening the partnership between the grouping and the host country.
The ASEAN Post on May 11 published an article titled “Building food security during the pandemic”, calling on the international community to act immediately to keep food supply chains operating.
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.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong (Photo: VNA)
