ASEAN News

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made an unusual appearance at today’s PKR headquarters to meet with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other Pakatan Harapan leaders in the midst of continuing rumors of a possible governmental change. PH leaders’ aides exchanged photos, among others, of Dr Mahathir, Anwar, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng, Amanah President Mohamad Sabu, and Warisan President Datuk Seri …

Global demand for essentials items such as medicine and food has kept the Southeast Asian trade afloats as the region fight the novel coronavirus pandemic and its effects on slowing down the economies around the world. Singapore’s exports, driven by pharmaceuticals, surged to 170%. Japan’s also grew record numbers. Food exports rose 66% overall, increasing almost 10-fold. Exports to the …

Trade barriers including tariff and non-tariff restrictions will be limited to support the economies of ASEAN members amid the coronavirus pandemic, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said in a statement. Vietnam, who is also the chair for this year’s Asean summit, hosted an online meeting with economic ministers in Southeast Asia and China, Japan and South …

The Asean-Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) and Asean Economic Ministers (AEMs) met in a special session this week to discuss the Outline for Asean Action (OAA that emphasised both the immediate term challenges and the economic recovery process. Asean-BAC has renewed its call for the establishment of a Special Commission so that the Asean nation can be safer and would allow …

LONDON – The United Kingdom has applied become a Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the government said on Friday as it seeks to strengthen ties with the region. UK hopes to boost partnership with the 10-member Asean to accelerate growth and collaboration in the region that would lead to new opportunities on trade, security, education …

HANOI – Vietnam’s most seriously ill COVID-19 patient, a 43-year-old British pilot who works for its national airline, has started recovering from the illness and may no longer require a major lung transplant operation. According to the state media, Vietnam has mounted an all out effort to save the British pilot identified as “Patient 91”. British Consul General Ian Gibbons …

Member states of the of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations together with China, Japan and South Korea on Thursday vows to strengthen and maintain open markets among nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic in hopes to fight off the impact created by the health crisis. The economic ministers of each nations met on an online video conference chaired by Vietnam …

Asean chair for the regional bloc Vietnam has made a proposal this year to hold a physical summit despite the Covid-19 pandemic, A high rank official from Indonesian Foreign Ministry announced today. The face to face meeting, if approved, is expected to be held on June 27 and 28 i Da Nang, Vietnam. The two day summit which includes Asean …

United Nation rights chief on Wednesday has expressed alarm that China and Asian nations were using Covid-19 crisis as an excuse to target and tighten censorship and free expression. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement that aside for the tigthened censorship in several countries, there were also arbitrary arrests and detention of people who criticize their government’s …

HANOI – As coronavirus continues to pose serious impact to the Asean region, Vietnam, as Asean chair, will have a big task on its plate to pull the region together the collectively defeat the common enemy the world is currently facing. Vietnam have chosen ‘Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN’ as the theme for its chairmanship. “Cohesive” signifies unity, solidarity  and internal …