ASEAN ministers meet in Phnom Penh

The ministers in charge of culture and social welfare of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on October 25 for the 8th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting.
The ministers in chargeof culture and social welfare of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) gathered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on October 25for the 8th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting.

Presided over by Cambodia ’s President Hun Sen, the meeting focusedon major issues involving culture, environment, education, naturaldisasters, women and children, public health and social welfare.

The meeting aims to step up cooperation between member countries to enable an ASEAN Community to be formed by 2015.

Every country is expected to work together closely and support each other in the future to ensure peace, stability and prosperity across the region.

According to Hun Sen, the future ASEAN socio-cultural community will draw up plans on key areas such asnarrowing development gaps, developing human resources, ensuring socialwelfare and social justice, creating an ASEAN identity and ensuring theenvironment is protected sustainably.

Originally founded in 1967, ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA

See more

A street vendor in Thailand. (Photo: VNA)

Thailand seeks to solutions to address household debts

Speaking to reporters before attending the weekly Cabinet meeting at Government House, Pichai said he will meet with the Thai Bankers’ Association to discuss ways to address the household debt burden, which is seen as a key factor hampering economic growth.

ASEAN moves towards sustainable agriculture

ASEAN moves towards sustainable agriculture

According to the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the guidelines were launched at a meeting on implementing the Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transition and linking to green finance, held in Vientiane on March 17 - 18.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (centre) trying to control the legged robot using DSTA's robotics-enabled C3 at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit on March 19. (Photo: https://www.straitstimes.com/)

Singapore committed to promoting global security

The rapid pace of technological advancement has irrevocably reshaped the security environment, given the rise of asymmetric threats enabled by dual-use technologies, said Singapore Deputy PM Heng Swee Keat.

China’s Hong Kong eases entry for ASEAN guests

China’s Hong Kong eases entry for ASEAN guests

The move aims to streamline immigration procedures for ASEAN visitors who have made significant contributions to Hong Kong’s economic development or are invited to attend major events in the special administrative region of China.

Foreign arrivals wait to go through the immigration process at Suvarnabhumi airport. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Thailand shortens visa-free stay to 30 days

Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong said the issue had been widely discussed among all related stakeholders in the past few weeks, and they all agreed in principle to reduce the period of stays from 60 days to 30 days for citizens from countries granted a visa exemption under the programme.

Malaysia warns against cryptocurrency investment scams (Photo: theedgemalaysia.com)

Malaysia warns against cryptocurrency investment scams

According to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, cryptocurrency scams have become a major commercial crime trend, often luring professionals and retirees with promises of high returns.