ASEAN and the world

The 11th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM-11) opened in Pattaya city, Thailand, on November 19th, themed “Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment”, according to Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has endorsed a 5-year Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Turkmenistan to support regional cooperation and economic diversification during 2017-2021. This is ADB’s first full CPS with Turkmenistan since the country joined ADB in 2000.

Chileans on November 19th began to vote in presidential elections to choose a successor to Michelle Bachelet.

An earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck in the South Pacific, prompting a tsunami warning for coastlines within 300 km of the epicentre.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has submitted a list of his new cabinet’s members to King Rama X in preparation for a reshuffle that is expected to focus on improving economic performance.

On November 16th, Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe vowed to strengthen Japan’s alliance with the United States in the face of regional security concerns, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s nuclear and missile threats.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared three days of national mourning after a historic flood killed at least 15 people on November 15th.

On November 15th, US President held a joint press conference in the White House, declaring his 12-day Asia tour as a “tremendous success”, claiming that “America is back” as a global leader.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s President Moon Jae-in on November 14th had a talk with Singapore Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong in the Philippines on the sideline of the 31st ASEAN Summit.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson briefly visited Myanmar o n November 15th to push for an end to the violence that has plagued the country's Rakhine state.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Nay Pi Taw on November 15th, beginning his visit to Myanmar – the final leg of his Asia tour.

The 43rd Conference of the ASEAN Port Association (APA) opened in Vung Tau city, the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, drawing representatives of the ASEAN member countries, excepting for land-locked Laos.

(CPV) - To successfully deal with the profound challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) need to improve their collaboration. This is the conclusion of a new joint report launched on November 14th 2017 by ADB and the World Economic Forum.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on November 13th met in Manila (the Philippines), saying they share a desire to further improve bilateral relations.

US President Donald Trump on November 13th nominated former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar as Secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department (HHS).

At least five people were killed, including the gunman, after a shooting in Northern California’s Tehama County.

The ASEAN+3 Summit took place in Manila, the Philippines, on November 14th with the attendance of leaders from 10 ASEAN member states and Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

(CPV) - ADB is providing USD6 million in loans and USD200,000 in technical assistance grants to Finca Armenia, one of the leading credit organizations in the country, to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers, helping them to raise income levels and employment.

China has proposed the formulation of a vision for strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) toward 2030 to upgrade cooperation.

India, the US, Japan and Australia held their first official-level talks on November 12th to pursue common interests in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake on November 12th struck the border region between Iraq and Iran, killing at least 450 people.

Thailand's Department of Health Service Support is promoting the country's health products and services in Bangladesh, in an effort to turn Thailand into a leading medical hub of Asia.

President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in has called for efforts to diversify and upgrade ties with the Associaiton of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

(CPV) - ADB Vice-President Wencai Zhang met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov on November 10th 2017. Mr. Zhang reiterated ADB’s support for the government’s development agenda and expressed confidence in the country’s economic prospects.

At least 16 died on November 12th when a tourist boat packed with 38 passengers capsized in the southern India state of Andhra, Pradesh.

A seminar in Moscow on November 10 discussed prospects for cooperation between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the role played by Vietnam in connecting the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and ASEAN.

Trade ministers from 11 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have agreed on core elements of the pact, which is from now on called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

On November 9th, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck 165 km ESE (east-southeast) of Hachijo-jima, Japan.

Cambodia held a ceremony in Phnom Penh on November 9th to celebrate the 64th anniversary of the country’s independence from France.

(CPV) - ADB conducted a two-day training in Kabul for more than 30 representatives of Afghanistan government and executing agencies implementing ADB projects on project financial management.