ASEAN food festival held in Canada

The embassies of ASEAN countries in Canada have held an ASEAN food festival in Ottawa to promote their solidarity, hospitality, and cultural identities to international friends, particularly Canadians, on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the bloc (August 8, 1967 - 2024).

 Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Ottawa (VNA) – The embassies of ASEAN countries in Canada have held an ASEAN food festival in Ottawa to promote their solidarity, hospitality, and cultural identities to international friends, particularly Canadians, on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the bloc (August 8, 1967 - 2024).

The event attracted much attention from representatives of local authorities and the Canadian Government.

Ottawa's Mayor Mark Sutcliffe delivered a speech on cultural diversity and national identity that people of the Southeast Asian origin have contributed to Canada.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria, rotating chairperson of the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa, reviewed the bloc’s history and achievements over the past time.

Regrading to the ASEAN-Canada relations, the diplomat said Canada has been a strategic partner of the grouping since 2023, while ASEAN has remained the fourth largest trading partner of the North American country, with two-way trade reaching 38.7 billion USD.

The relations have never been as vibrant as they are today, driven by multi-faceted cooperation of mutual interest, the ambassador said, expressing her hope that the festival will bring ASEAN closer to Canadians.

In the coming time, ASEAN ambassadors will continue their coordination to organise similar events in Montreal, Toronto or other localities of Canada, she said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, President of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council Wayne Farmer emphasised that such events will help build relations between governments and businesses, as well as among enterprises of Canada and ASEAN countries, thus helping strengthen their trade and business ties in the future.

He noted that the ASEAN-Canada relations are focusing on the two areas of food security and energy, in which the two sides can cooperate as reliable trade partners.

More than one million people of the Southeast Asian origin now consider Canada their second home, and have deeply integrated into the host society.

ASEAN and Canada are promoting negotiations to complete a free trade agreement by 2025./.

VNA

See more

Delegates at the event (Photo: kpl.gov.la)

Laos aims for sustainable infrastructure development

Laos' Enabling Environment Roadmap for Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM EE) outlines strategies for the effective management of public infrastructure, including roads, schools, and hospitals, with a focus on resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Strong earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia (Photo: scienceexchange.caltech.edu)

Strong earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake occurred at 5:15 pm, with its epicenter located 93 km northeast of Indonesia's Maluku Barat Daya district and a hypocenter at a depth of 157 km beneath the seabed. No tsunami warning has been issued.

Rescue forces are racing against time to search for victims of the earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Myanmar earthquake: Devastation’s full extend is not clear

Myanmar's state media quoted military government leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as saying the earthquake death toll had reached 2,065, with more than 3,900 injured and some 270 missing. Aid agencies forecast these numbers will rise significantly due to information blackouts in remote areas.

File - Passengers pass through the automatic immigration checkpoint (auto gate) at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, January 3, 2024. (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia operates auto gates at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

According to Johanes Fanny Satria Cahya Aprianto, head of the airport's immigration office, immigration services are fully prepared for the surge in passengers. Currently the office has deployed 531 personnel to ensure smooth and efficient immigration processing at the airport.

Rescuers on March 30 search for missing people after the earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

WHO seeks urgent funding for Myanmar after devastating earthquake

In its flash appeal for funds, the WHO said the high numbers of casualties and trauma injuries are at high risk of infection due to limited surgical capacity in the country, while the underlying conditions in Myanmar meant the quake is likely to intensify the risk of diseases.

Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Belgian monarchs’ state visit to open new chapter in bilateral cooperation

As a major player in the region and one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, Vietnam is an indispensable partner for Belgium. The meetings with the various Vietnamese authorities will therefore offer an excellent opportunity to further deepen and enrich this diverse partnership, according the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha. (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)

Cambodia strengthens cross-border crime control

In 2024, Cambodia cracked down 197 cases relating to human trafficking and sexual exploitation, an increase of over 20% compared to the previous year. The authorities identified 523 victims and arrested 273 suspects and sent them to court, including 30 foreigners.