ASEAN and the world

Vietnamese Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc has made an official visit to the US from May 29th - 31st.

(CPV) - At least 2.7 million children live in residential care worldwide, according to a new estimate by UNICEF. Yet the figures, published in Child Abuse & Neglect on June 1st 2017, are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, with wide gaps in data collection and accurate records found in the majority of countries.

Singapore has tightened security across all streets leading to Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, where the 16th Shangri-La Dialogue will take place from June 2nd to 4th.

(CPV) - (CPV) - “In 2016, at the Global Policy Forum in Fiji, members of the AFI endorsed the Denarau Action Plan — a ten-point action plan which confirmed our commitment to gender and women’s financial inclusion,” said Mr. Bakani, Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor.

(CPV) - ADB and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Agriculture (WGA) opened a series of events on May 31st 2017 on the theme "Discover GMS: Asia's Natural Hub" during the Thaifex World of Food 2017 at Bangkok's Impact Exhibition Center from May 31st to June 4th 2017.

At least 14 people have been killed due to a severe thunderstorm which hit Moscow.

The Royal Thai Navy and the US Navy have kicked off the joint maritime exercise "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training" (CARAT 2017) in Chonburi province of Thailand in an effort to enhance the tactical proficiency of both nations’ armed forces.

At least 23 people were killed in separate incidents, including lightning strike and wall collapse, triggered by a severe squall in Bihar, India on May 30th.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD2.75 million loan and a USD2.25 million grant to help Tonga strengthen its long-term economic growth prospects as well as support and develop the country’s capacity to respond to external economic shocks.

Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has started a six-day tour of Europe, including Germany, Spain, Russia and France.

At least 146 people have died while 112 people have been reported missing after severe flooding and mudslides in Sri Lanka.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Mongolia kicked off a USD500,000 capacity development technical assistance project to increase the resilience of Mongolian forest ecosystems to climate change with an inception workshop on May 30th 2017.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for efforts of lawmakers to accelerate discussion for revision of the anti-terrorism bill, aiming to create an official legal framework for the country’s counter-terrorism activities.

(CPV) - ADB and the Home Finance Company Limited (HFC Bank) signed two trade finance agreements enabling ADB’s Trade Finance Program (TFP) on May 29th 2017 to support up to USD4 million of trade annually in Fiji. The agreements include a credit guarantee facility and a revolving credit facility.

Brazil's President Michel Temer has named Torquato Jardim as his new Justice Minister.

US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on May 25th met with each other for their first time since the two took office.

Mr. Lenin Moreno has been sworn in as the 44th President of Ecuador.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutefilika on May 24th appointed Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 72, as the new Prime Minister, a statement from the Algerian presidency said.

The Lao Government has instructed relevant agencies to study the establishment of a company to coordinate with Vietnamese partners on the development of a seaport in Vietnam’s central region.

ADB through its Timor-Leste Resident Mission (TLRM), organized an event today to celebrate the institution’s 50-year anniversary working on Asia and the Pacific’s development, while affirming its long-term commitment and development partnership with Timor-Leste.

Cambodia is optimistic about the prospect of a rubber price recovery amid falling global prices, said a local official.

On May 24th, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Brussels, Belgium, beginning their official visit.

(CPV) - ADB Vice President Wencai Zhang, on a 2-day visit to Maldives, met with President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to discuss ADB operations as well as the future direction of its partnership with Maldives.

Tanzania President John Magufuli and his Uganda counterpart, Mr Yoweri Museveni have signed an agreement on the laying of an oil pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga port.

The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) took place in Manila, the Philippines on May 24th to discuss preparations for the 24th ARF Ministerial Meeting slated for August in the country.

The Lao economy is projected to grow around 7 percent annually between 2017 and 2019, according to the latest edition of the World Bank's Lao Economic Monitor released in Vientiane on May 24th.

Nineteen people have been killed and more than 50 injured in a suspected terror attack at Manchester Arena.

Ethiopia’s former health minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been elected as the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania on May 23rd arrived in Rome, Italy for their official visit.

Myanmar’s trade turnover with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hit USD9.6 billion in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, which ended in March.