World

GMS plans next development activities

Ministers attending the 18th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Ministerial Conference in Nanning, China, have agreed that the next phase of GMS investments should expand to new areas such as multi-sector investments towards urban development, connecting remote areas with growth centres, and extending existing corridors into Myanmar.
Ministers attending the 18th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)Ministerial Conference in Nanning, China, have agreed that the nextphase of GMS investments should expand to new areas such as multi-sectorinvestments towards urban development, connecting remote areas withgrowth centres, and extending existing corridors into Myanmar.

The two-day conference drew the participation of officials fromCambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnamto evaluate achievements in the past and establish future prioritiesfor investment.

The event was also joined bydevelopment partners such as Australia, Japan, US, InternationalOrganisation for Migration, Mekong River Commission, and UNESCAP.

The meeting endorsed a number of recent initiatives, including theplanned establishment of the Regional Power Coordination Centre, actionplans for human resources development and HIV reduction, the extensionof the agriculture support programme, and the decision to create aGreater Mekong Railway Association as a first step to boost cross borderrail connectivity.

The GMS Environment Atlas was also launchedat the meeting, signalling the sub-region’s commitment to environmentalsustainability.

Since its inception in 1992, the GMSprogramme has invested 15 billion USD in sub-regional roads, airportsand railways, telecommunications, energy, urban development, tourism,environmental protection and the prevention of communicable diseases.-VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

See more

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra listens to a briefing by a team of Israeli rescuers who are part of an international contingent working at the collapsed building site in Bangkok. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand works to restore global trust after Myanmar quake

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra underscored Thailand's commitment to restoring its image and ensuring public confidence, noting that a thorough investigation into the project's approval, design and construction materials is underway.

Thailand speeds up investigation into Bangkok building collapse

Thailand speeds up investigation into Bangkok building collapse

The SAO building, valued at 2.1 billion THB (61.4 million USD), had been under construction for approximately five years and was nearing completion. It was the only building in Bangkok to collapse as a result of the powerful earthquake in Myanmar.

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.