ASEAN and the world

(CPV) - Climate financing by the world’s largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) in developing countries and emerging economies rose to an all-time high of USD43.1 billion in 2018, boosting projects that help developing countries cut emissions and address climate risks.

The sixth News Agencies World Congress (NAWC) opened in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia on June 13th, bringing together more than 200 delegates from nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

The 16th Asia Media Summit, themed “Media Digitalisation Focusing on Developing Markets” opened in Siem Reap, Cambodia on June 16th.

Thailand is ready to host the 37th Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) to push for concrete regional energy cooperation.

The Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC) has sent a medical team to Suan Phung district in Ratchaburi province after reports of Chikyngunya virus infection of 14 visiting students and teachers from Singapore.

(CPV) - The GEF's 56th Council meeting, hosted at the World Bank’s headquarters from June 11th to 13th, perhaps more than any of its predecessors, directly addresses the scientific consensus that the natural world, and the Earth's systems, are under serious attack.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD5 million grant to continue helping Tonga strengthen its fiscal position by adopting prudent policies and better public financial management, as well as improve the country’s business climate with policy, regulatory, and public enterprise reforms.

The Nation paper cited sources within the Phalang Pracharat Party as saying that the new government of Thailand will likely be established on June 13th.

Cooperation between Mekong and the US was the theme of the annual diplomacy forum held by the Meridian International Centre in Washington DC on June 6th.

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said on June 6th that Singaporean leader’s comment on “Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia” is against the revival of the Cambodian people.

Some 887,039 Chinese tourists came to Cambodia in the first four months of 2019, up 37 percent from the same period last year, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report announced on June 6 by the Cambodian tourist ministry.

(CPV) - ADB will need to evolve and expand its support to Cambodia's agriculture sector to help support the country's growth, mitigate the effects of climate change, and attract more private sector involvement to feed a growing urban population, according to a recent evaluation by ADB's Independent Evaluation Department.

Relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan are of great significance, and they have become close and important partners of each other, according to Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

The 34th ASEAN-Japan Forum took place in Hanoi on June 3rd under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) on June 3rd announced the start of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Philippines as part of efforts to strengthen economic ties with the Southeast Asian country.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a financial package totaling USD11 million to bring in a single electronic platform in Maldives to improve the speed and efficiency of cross-border control procedures employing the latest in high-tech systems.

The 18th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 1st saw various discussions under themes related to maritime security, national defence industry development and national defence cooperation.

Thailand and Myanmar expect to have cars travelling on routes between both countries this September, in a move set to bolster the regional economy.

Japan and the Philippines have agreed to work toward achieving a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region by strengthening security cooperation.

A roundtable conference on ASEAN-China trade cooperation took place in Beijing, China on May 31st, aiming to implementing common perceptions reached between the two sides during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April 2019.

The speaker and two deputy speakers of the House of Representatives of Thailand have received Royal approval, Thailand's Royal Gazette website reported on May 31.

The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) endorsed more than 20 initiatives for 2019-2020 in Bangkok on May 31st.

(CPV) - ADB and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group, have agreed to cooperate more closely to increase the flow of private sector investment into emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific, in line with the 2030 development goals.

Nigerian President Mumhammadu Buhari has sworn in for his 2nd term, vowing to tackle security threats and root out corruption.

Chinese President Xi Jin-ping will pay a visit to Russia from June 5th - 7th at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that rocked parts of Peru and neighboring Ecuador left at least two persons dead and more than 30 people injured, authorities said.

Thailand’s King Rama X has appointed General Surayud Chulanont as acting President of the Privy Council to replace General Prem Tinsulanonda who died aged 98 on May 26th.

(CPV) - A comprehensive plan to develop Timor-Leste’s coffee sector was launched in Dili on May 28th 2019 by Timor-Leste’s Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Mr. Joaquim Jose Gusmao Reis Martins.

The Rice Policy and Management Committee of Thailand has announced rice stock release plans and expects over 34 million tonnes of rice throughout this year.

At least 30 people died and hundreds were believed missing after a boat carrying more than 350 passengers capsized on a lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).