Cambodia suggests creation of travel corridors at AMM 53
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn recommended ASEAN work towards the creation of “travel corridors” to facilitate business travel in a safe and gradual manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn (Photo: mfaic.gov)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Ministerof Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn recommended ASEANwork towards the creation of “travel corridors” to facilitate business travelin a safe and gradual manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the ministry’s press release on the outcomes of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 53) and Related Meetings held via videoconference on September 9-12, in his speech at the events, Prak Sokhonn underlinedthat amidst the escalating tensions between major powers and challenges formultilateralism, ASEAN needs to firmly uphold the spirit of the bloc’s unityand neutrality to exercise the ASEAN Way principles.
He said the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) will have a new ExecutiveDirector in mid-October, and spoke highly of Vietnam’s initiative to set up the“Friends of ARMAC” group so as to mobilise more support for the centre.
Regarding the 27th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, PrakSokhonn laid stress on the important role of the foreign partners in mobilisingsupport for the ASEAN’s newly established COVID-19 Response Fund, as well ascoordination of the regional health organisations.
At the 21st ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, heunderscored the need to set up the APT Reserve of Essential Supplies, andthanked APT for their contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. He alsothanked Japan for supporting the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for PublicHealth Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, and stressed the urgency to get theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement signed later thisyear.
Meanwhile, at the meeting between ASEAN and China, he recommended China furthersupport ASEAN’s efforts in realising the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,and thanked China for helping the bloc implement the Initiative for ASEANIntegration (IAI) Work Plans./.
ASEAN and Canada agreed to soon elevate their dialogue relationship to a Strategic Partnership during the ASEAN-Canada Ministerial Meeting held online on September 10 as part of the 53rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-53).
Participants to the virtual ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting on September 10 shared the view that the ASEAN-Australia dialogue relationship has made strong progress since its establishment in 1974, and positively contributed to regional peace and stability.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh chaired the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Interface with ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Representatives that was held online on September 10.
The ASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting was held online within the framework of the 53rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-53) and related meetings on September 10.
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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.
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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.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn (Photo: mfaic.gov) 
