Australia said it will offer the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a 60-million-USD package under the Partnerships for Recovery programme to support the region in COVID-19 related health security, stability and economic recovery.
Collecting samples for COVID-19 testing in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Australia said it will offer theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a 60-million-USD package underthe Partnerships for Recovery programme to support the region in COVID-19related health security, stability and economic recovery.
The package complements the funds already pivoted underAustralia’s existing aid programme to assist the region’s most pressingpriorities in response to COVID-19.
On health security, a new partnership will be established tohelp the Mekong sub-region enhance early COVID-19 detection using Australiantechnology to monitor wastewater.
New research to be funded under Partnerships for Recoverywill help inform how ASEAN’s COVID-19 recovery plans support the specific needsof women and girls. Australia will extend its funding for the Disability Rightsin ASEAN (DRiA) initiative and support development of the ASEAN EnablingMasterplan 2025. These measures will give boost to an inclusive approach toregional recovery, including for vulnerable people and communities.
A further investment in ASEAN’s economic integration anddigital, a successor to Australia’s flagship economic cooperation programmewith ASEAN (AADCPII), will support economic recovery through cooperation inconnectivity, digital transformation, responding to the fourth industrialrevolution, and private sector development.
In addition to the country’s commitment to support ASEAN-ledhealth responses at the Special ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’ meeting onJune 30, Australia will contribute 1 million USD to ASEAN’s COVID-19 ResponseFund, to help ASEAN purchase medical supplies and equipment, support researchcooperation, and build capacity for frontline health professionals./.
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop has recently announced the launch of the Australia-ASEAN Council (AAC) at the Parliament House in Canberra.
Doan Thanh Tung, a young businessman, will represent Vietnam at the Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Programme 2018 (A2ELP) that will take place in Australia for three months from early March.
Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo has announced a joint initiative between Australia and ASEAN countries to promote digital trade and support inclusive economic growth
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Collecting samples for COVID-19 testing in Jakarta, Indonesia (Source: Xinhua/VNA) 
