ASEAN, UN pledge to strengthen cooperation

The ASEAN and United Nations and will continue to strengthen cooperation and institutional ties within the framework of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between the two organisations signed in 2011.
The ASEAN and United Nations and will continue to strengthencooperation and institutional ties within the framework of the JointDeclaration on Comprehensive Partnership between the twoorganisations signed in 2011.

The statement was made during ameeting between UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political AffairsMiroslav Jenca and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh at the ASEANSecretariat on 26 June.

Addressing the event, the ASEA Chiefpraised Assistant SG Jenca’s visit to the ASEAN Secretariat shortlyafter assuming office in May as a reflection of the importance ofASEAN to the UN.

Meanwhile Jenca pledged to work with the ASEAN Secretariat to expand and deepen ASEAN-UN cooperation.

Thetwo sides exchanged views on ways to strengthen ASEAN-UN ties,including a review of the comprehensive partnership and streamliningvarious cooperation mechanisms.

Both agreed to considerformulating a long-term plan for ASEAN-UN cooperation, taking intoaccount ASEAN Community Building Post-2015 and the UN's Post-2015Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recognising theASEAN's important role in promoting regional peace and stability, Jencaaffirmed the UN will continue to cooperate with the bloc in variousareas of mutual interest under the political-security pillar, includingstrengthening cooperation to address transnational threats such asmaritime security, violent extremism, international terrorism and humantrafficking.

Minh expressed his appreciation for the UNand its agencies for the valuable experience and expertise extended tothe ASEAN Secretariat over the past years, noting that institutionalcollaboration is an important pillar of ASEAN-UN cooperation.

Thetwo sides discussed several initiatives to strengthen and enhance theeffectiveness of the ASEAN Secretariat to address new responsibilitiesand future challenges.

ASEAN-UN cooperation began inthe 1970s and has since rapidly expanded. ASEAN and its agencies nowhave working relationships with more than 50 UN agencies. The JointDeclaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the UN,signed in 2011, serves as an overarching framework for cooperationbetween the two organisations.-VNA

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.