ASEAN and the world

Two black boxes from the Boeing 737 MAX airplane that crashed in Ethiopia were being taken to Paris for investigation, Ethiopia Airlines said.

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jin-ping to resolve the ongoing trade war won’t take place this month, and is more likely to occur in April at the earliest, Bloomberg reported on March 14th.

Beto O’Rourke on March 14th announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for President in the 2020 election.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 12th called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to act on its pledge to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on March 11th named Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui as the new Prime Minister (PM).

(CPV) - The Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the membership of Niue as the bank’s 68th overall member and 49th from the Asia and Pacific region.

Japan on March 11th paid tribute to the victims of the 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami, which caused the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, on the eight anniversary of the tragedy.

A jetliner carrying 157 people crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ethiopian capital, killing everyone aboard on March 10th.

On March 10th, Mr. Mohammed Shtayyah, a member of Fatah Central Committee, was named as Prime Minister (PM) of Palestine by President Mahmud Abbas.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is head of Vietnam’s ASEAN SOM, attended the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, from March 6th-8th.

On March 6th, officials of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia met to discuss the two countries’ cooperation in trade and the economy, in Moscow, following the second summit between Washington and Pyongyang in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27th – 28th.

The Democratic People’s Republic Korea (DPRK)’s state-run TV has aired a documentary on the 2nd DPRK - US summit and leader Kim Jong-un’s official visit to Vietnam.

Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), will attend the 2019 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference in Washington in March 11th - 12th.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad on March 6th began his two-day visit to the Philippines, according to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

Chiang Mai province has planned to pursue a Smart City model to improve the quality of life of local villagers.

Czech Prime Minister (PM) Andrej Babis has begun an official visit to the United States (US) at the invitation of President Donald Trump.

Republic of Korea (RoK)’s President has appointed new Ambassadors to China, Russia and Japan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah held a bilateral meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administration centre, on March 5th.

(CPV) - ADB signed a USD11.5 million loan in tenge equivalent with Baikonyr Solar Limited Liability Partnership (Baikonyr Solar LLP) on March 4th 2019 to support the development of solar power in Kazakhstan and further enhance the country’s energy security through increased renewable sources.

The United States (UN) Security Council has granted sanctions exemptions to enable video reunions for families separated by the 1950 - 1953 Korean War.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s state news agency KCNA has announced on March 5th that leader Kim Jong-un returned to Pyongyang, after “successfully” concluding his first official state visit to Vietnam and holding his second summit with US President Donald Trump.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has submitted official papers confirming he will seek re-election.

On February 28th, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister (FM) Wang Yi met with Ri Kil Song, Vice FM of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The US's White House has said its President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un will hold a “joint agreement signing ceremony” at the end of the summit in Hanoi on February 28th.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un said he had an interesting conversation with US President Donald Trump which came before their dinner at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel on February 27th.

US President Donald Trump on February 27th affirmed that he will not turn his back on the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Pakistan signed a loan agreement for USD75 million on February 26th 2019 to widen and upgrade 42 kilometers (km) of the busy Mardan–Swabi road in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mr. Ahmed M. Saeed as Vice-President for Operations 2.

To release the hottest information on the 2nd US - DPRK summit to readers around the world, reporters at the International Media Center (IMC) have not hesitated to continue working well into the night.

Professor Faisal Ahmed from India’s FORE School of Management has voiced his optimism about the second summit between US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un which takes place in Hanoi on February 27th-28th.