World

Canada, Philippines boost security, trade ties

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Philippine President Benigo Aquino announced initiatives to boost security and commercial ties between the two countries on May 8.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Philippine President BenigoAquino announced initiatives to boost security and commercial tiesbetween the two countries on May 8.

The two sides statedthe start of a study on the possibility of forming a free tradeagreement (FTA) and the upgrade of the existing Investment Promotion andMutual Protection Agreement, which was signed in the 1996.

Besides,Canada will create favorable conditions for the ASEAN member country toaccess such agencies as the Trade and Development Foundation (CTDF) andthe Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Department (DFATD), whichare tasked to support developing countries in negotiating andimplementing trade-investment agreements between Canada and othercountries.

The pair inked a five -year mutual responsible frame(until February 2020), renewing the sustainable, effective andtransparent cooperation in development assistance.

In the fieldof security, PM Stephen Harper announced three new initiatives worth3.58 million USD, aiming to intensify collaboration with the Philippinesin coping with regional and global threats.

President BenignoAquino visited Canada from May 7-9. The Philippines is Canada’s sixthlargest trading partners in the Southeast Asian region, with bilateraltrade hitting 1.8 billion USD in 2014.-VNA

Follow VietnamPlus

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.