ASEAN and the world

Myanmar is planning to turn Pyin Oo Lwin, the country’s hill town into a flower city of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Laos launched a ceremony to initiate it National Tourism Year 2018 in the capital city Vientiane on October 28th.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD100 million loan for the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility, which will support the Philippine government in accelerating the delivery of high quality public infrastructure projects under its ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program.

(CPV) - The 16th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference was held in Dushanbe on October 27th 2017. Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon made the keynote address. ADB President Takehiko Nakao made the special address.

US President Donald Trump on October 29th nominated Mr. Randall Schriver as the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Affairs.

The US Senate on October 26th confirmed Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink as the next US Ambassador to Vietnam.

Kenyans on October 26th lined up at polling stations for the nation’s second presidential election, after the August vote was nullified.

US President Donald Trump on October 25th spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping to congratulate him for the successful conclusion of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress in Beijing.

The US President Donald Trump will skip the East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines next month, the White House said.

The Bank Indonesia (BI) has forecast that economic growth in the fourth quarter of this year will reach 5.3-5.4 percent, higher than 5-5.1 percent from the previous quarter.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD40 million policy-based loan to help the Government of Armenia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal sustainability and support the development of financial markets in the country.

Former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on October 24th was elected Speaker of Germany’s Bundestag, or lower house of parliament.

Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich has called on the ASEAN countries and partners to have joint efforts, shared perspectives and strategic trust, in dealing with current challenges to maintain a peaceful and stable environment.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a loan of USD200 million with sovereign guarantee for Ceylon Electricity Board to develop Sri Lanka’s first 100-megawatt wind park.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s President Moon Jae-in on October 23rd named former lawmaker of the Democratic Party and liberal economist Hong Jong-haak as Minister of SMEs (small-and medium-sized businesses) and Start-ups.

Singapore Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong has begun his official 6-day visit to the US.

Trade ministers of 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region will gather in the Republic of Korea this week to discuss the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Yonhap news agency quoted the RoK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as saying on October 23rd.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD2 million grant to help strengthen public financial management in the Marshall Islands by enhancing the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Finance to effectively implement public financial management (PFM) and state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms.

Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes as powerful winds from Typhoon Lan lashed Japan on Sunday (October 22nd).

The US Secretary of Defence James Mattis arrived in the Republic of Korea (RoK) to co-chair the 49th annual Security Consultative Meeting with his Korean counterpart Song Young-moo.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Mongolia signed two technical assistance (TA) agreements totaling USD1.6 million on October 20th 2017 to support the preparation of the country’s health and education sector master plans.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong began his six-day visit to the US on October 21st, aiming to strengthen the bilateral partnership, according to Singapore media.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres travelled to Washington and meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on October 20th, a UN spokesman announced.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) honoured cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez with a order on space sciences.

The Russian Embassy in Vietnam has announced that President Vladimir Putin will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Da Nang at the invitation of Vietnamese leaders.

On October 18th, an explosion at a fireworks factory in the eastern state of Odisha, India, killed at least 8 people and injured dozens others.

At least 276 people were killed and around 300 others injured in the most powerful bomb blast ever seen in Somalia’s capital.

Former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay on October 13th was elected as the new Director General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The wildfires that erupted last weekend have killed at least 40 people and dozens of people were still missing, including 74 people in Napa county.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has named Jan Hecker, her refugee policy coordinator, as her new foreign policy adviser, according to German media.