Myanmar to host ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015

Myanmar will host the 34th ASEAN Tourism Forum-2015 for the first time from January 22-29, a move expected to boost its tourism growth.
Myanmar will host the 34th ASEAN Tourism Forum-2015 for the firsttime from January 22-29, a move expected to boost its tourism growth.

It expects to bring together 1,500 guests, including tourismministers, from 40 countries around the world to the event in Nay PyiTaw, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

An ASEAN TourismMinisters Meeting, a ministerial meeting on tourism between ASEAN andthe bloc’s partner countries, and other relevant conferences will beheld.

The first ASEAN Tourism Forum was hosted by Malaysia in1981, aiming to provide a platform for regional countries to populariseand introduce their tourism products.

According to the bloc’sstatistics, 2.04 million foreigners spent their vacations in Myanmar in2013, which represented a rise of 93 percent from 2012.

The number of arrivals to Myanmar hit 3 million in 2014.-VNA

See more

A street in Bangkok, Thailand. (Illustrative photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thailand’s business activity shows signs of gradual recovery

As of August 31, Thailand had more than 1 million active legal entities with total registered capital of 24.13 trillion THB. The service sector accounted for the largest share, with 552,830 entities, or 54.48%, followed by wholesale and retail with 332,791 entities (32.79%) and manufacturing with 129,215 (12.73%).

Prime Minister Hun Manet (front row, centre) and Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour (front row, right) visit a garment factory in Preah Sihanouk province. MLVT (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)

Cambodia records 7,458 more enterprises in three years

A Cambodian official said that the growth should not be assessed solely by the number of newly established enterprises and facilities, but also by their contributions to investment, production, job creation and household incomes.

The ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) convenes in Manila, the Philippines, on September 9. The Vietnamese delegation is led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (fifth, left), head of the ASEAN-Vietnam SOM.(Photo: asean.org)

Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN unity, resilience

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang urged ASEAN to make full use of existing mechanisms to enhance dialogue, build trust and prevent risks and conflicts, particularly by strengthening the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), and cooperation based on international law.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta (Photo: VNA)

Timor-Leste diversifies economy, seeks to attract investment

The President noted Timor-Leste is pursuing sustainable development, stronger regional connectivity and expanded international cooperation while seeking investment opportunities in energy, tourism and emerging economic sectors to reduce its dependence on oil and gas revenues.

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam cooperates with UN to advance gender equality

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hai Luu highlighted Vietnam’s positive achievements in promoting gender equality, noting that 13 of the 20 targets under the national strategy on gender equality had been met or exceeded by 2025.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Russian public, experts praise top Vietnamese leader’s visit

Positive reactions to General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit have reaffirmed Vietnam’s steady foreign policy amid global changes, while highlighting the enduring trust and friendship between Vietnam and Russia, which are working together to create new breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation.

Thailand eases rules for foreign enterprises

Thailand eases rules for foreign enterprises

The regulatory adjustment is part of Thailand's efforts to simplify regulations governing foreign business operations and clarify licensing requirements, while simultaneously fostering economic development and enhancing the country's international competitiveness.

Julie Le Saos, Advisor for Asia, Oceania and the Americas to the French President (Photo: Pacific Newsroom)

France seeks to promote strategic cooperation with Vietnam: official

According to the Élysée Palace, a key objective of the visit to France by Party General Secretary and President To Lam is to drive the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2024, thereby helping reinforce the strategic autonomy of both nations and supporting Vietnam’s ambitious development goals.