ASEAN and the world

Singapore has suggested a new concept called the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) to parties involved to avoid accidental miscalculations that could lead to conflict at sea.

The Indonesian Government has asserted to continue encouraging ASEAN member countries to establish a legal corridor to protect the rights of migrant workers in the region.

(CPV) - “I would like to thank ADB, the Government of Australia, and the World Bank for jointly cofinancing this very important project with the Government of Kiribati,” Anote Tong, interim President of Kiribati, said at the opening ceremony. “This project will provide smoother and safer travel to clinics, markets and schools in Tarawa for almost half of my country’s population.”

Cambodia will continue joining peacekeeping operations in countries when there are requests from the United Nations, Prime Minister Hun Sen said.

The Republic of Korea Exchange (KRX) will sell a securities trading system to Vietnam in May, according to the agency’s press release issued on February 29th.

Singapore's visitor arrivals grew 0.9 percent to 15.2 million in 2015, however, the increase in visitors didn't bring in more income, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in its annual report released on January 29th.

Malaysia and Laos have agreed to explore areas of cooperation to strengthen their bilateral relations.

(CPV) - ADB has backed the issuance of the first Climate Bond in Asia and the Pacific.

Thailand and Cambodia have pledged to boost agreements signed during a joint cabinet meeting in December 2015 and support each other at the UN, said Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai on February 26th.

At least seven policemen and two locals were seriously injured in a car bomb detonated near a Border Patrol Police (BPP) station in Thailand’s southern province of Pattani on February 27th.

(CPV) - The Government of Fiji and ADB signed a USD2 million grant agreement on February 29th 2016 to finance relief efforts for communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

(CPV) - FC Barcelona and UNICEF renewed their commitment to the most vulnerable children on February 25th 2016, signing a new 4-year agreement. The renewal comes as the two organizations mark the 10-year anniversary of a partnership that already has helped improve the lives of over 1 million children in seven countries.

(CPV) - ADB President Takehiko Nakao met with Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on February 23rd 2016 and reaffirmed ADB’s strong commitment to support Sri Lanka’s continued development.

(CPV) - As part of a joint endeavour to step up protection for the growing numbers of children and others with specific needs arriving in Europe, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and UNICEF are setting up special support centres for children and families along the most frequently used migration routes in Europe.

(CPV) - More than 3,000 residents of Madang Province celebrated the completion of a financial literacy course on February 26th 2016, bringing the total number of course graduates to almost 100,000.

(CPV) - Five year old Murtaza Ahmadi, an Afghan boy whose photo went viral after he was pictured wearing an Argentine National Team soccer jersey made from a plastic bag with ‘Messi’ and the number ’10’ penned on the back, today received a special package sent by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel Messi.

Thailand and Russia are targeting to increase the value of their bilateral trade fivefold in the next five years, announced Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn on February 26th.

Senior officials representing the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) joined talks in the Lao capital of Vientiane on February 26th ahead of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat.

The Government of Thailand has decided to lay out a 20-year strategy for rice to improve the country’s paddy management.

(CPV) - The Prime Minister of Tonga, ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, ADB Vice-President, Stephen P. Groff, and New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, Sarah Walsh, participated in an opening ceremony on February 26th 2016 and formal handover of schools rebuilt and refurbished after they were damaged by Cyclone Ian in 2014.

Transnational crime is becoming a serious issue in the Southeast Asian region in the context of rapid regional economic integration and patchy cross-border controlling work.

(CPV) - ADB and LOMC, one of Sri Lanka’s leading non-bank microfinance institutions, signed a USD25 million loan agreement on February 24th 2016 to boost access to credit for individuals and micro enterprises.

(CPV) – ADB’s Director General of the Central and West Asia Department, Sean O’Sullivan, met with officials from the Government of Georgia on February 23rd – 24thto discuss ADB’s operations in the country.

Kazakhstan has ratified a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Foreign investment pledges approved by the Philippines’ investment promotion agencies increased by 31.2 percent to PHP245.2 billion (USD5.2 billion) last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Singapore’s inflation rate in January dropped 0.6 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a joint report released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on February 23rd.

The Indonesian government aims to bring the lending rate across the banking system down to a single digit, as part of its attempt to create more affordable financing to stoke growth in the country, according to the Jakarta Post on February 23rd.

(CPV) - ADB will provide USD2 million in emergency assistance to help the government and people of Fiji to cope with and recover from the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

(CPV) - ADB and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) today signed a transaction advisory services agreement to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo Port through public–private partnership (PPP).

Major issues regarding the upcoming election for deputies to the eighth National Assembly and members of the provincial People’s Councils of Laos were released at a press briefing in Vientiane on February 22nd.