ASEAN and the world

On April 12th, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told President Donald Trump in a phone call that Beijing is willing to work with Washington on ending Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s nuclear weapons program.

Two-way trade between Cambodia and China was valued at USD4.8 billion in 2016, up USD200 million from a year ago.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Afghanistan unveiled a comprehensive Transport Sector Master Plan Update on April 11th 2017 that will help Afghanistan develop its transport infrastructure covering roads, railways, civil aviation, urban transport, trade logistics, and other related operations.

President Donald Trump has nominated attorney John Sullivan of Maryland to be Deputy Secretary of State, the White House announced on April 12th.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had proposed Philippine President Rodirgo Duterte to invest more in rice production in Cambodia.

Economic growth is picking up in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s (Lao PDR) in 2017 and 2018, supported by the expansion of production and sales of electricity, a buoyant services sector growth, and construction of the cross-border railway project, says a new ADB report released on April 6th 2017.

Representatives of Thailand’s banking, trade and production have convened for a meeting to discuss issues related to trade with the US, after a list of 16 countries and territories running a large trade surplus with the US was announced.

The UN Security Council has strongly slammed a terrorist attack that took place in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 7th, killing at least 4 people and injuring over a dozen others.

The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes, the most prestigious awards in US journalism, at Columbia University in New York.

President Donald Trump has announced he would nominate Mr. Kevin Hassett as Chairman of Council of Economic Advisers.

Three earthquakes have caused landslides and building damage in the Philippines, although no injuries were reported.

On April 6th, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw began a state visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US President Donald Trump on April 6th received Chinese President Xi Jinping for the very first time.

An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck nearly 250 km north-northwest of Botswana's capital Gaborone on April 4th.

German author-illustrator Wolf Erlbruch has won the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world’s largest children’s book award.

Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Najib Razak and Indian PM Narendra Modi have announced that their countries would enhance cooperation in several fields, including terror fighting in the region, according to the Sutnik News Agency.

Mr. Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, former Togolese Prime Minister, was elected as the 6th President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Thailand’s general election is scheduled to take place in late 2018, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon was quoted by the country’s media on April 5 as saying.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have made progress in their talks on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, Philippine Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo said on April 4th.

On April 3rd, UK Prime Minister Theresa May began her official visit to the Middle East to hold talks on the fight against the so-called Islamic State, fostering business links and reinforcing the UK’s role in the region’s security.

Malaysia and India have signed a new aviation deal during the India visit of Malaysian Prime Minister NajibRazak, which allows a total of 22,531 passengers to fly to India per week, up by 1,861 passengers.

On April 2nd, ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno was declared the winner of Ecuador's presidential runoff.

Over 250 people have been confirmed dead and 400 others injured after a surge of mud and water from three overflowing rivers swept through Mocoa City in Colombia.

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to form a hotline between their armies to promote cooperation.

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi vowed to continue building up a federal union with eternal peace as she made a TV speech to the nation on March 30th evening.

Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will receive his Nobel Literature Prize diploma and medal in the next few days in Stockholm.

(CPV) - UNICEF welcomes the Italian Parliament for passing an historic law to boost support and protection for the record number of foreign unaccompanied and separated children who arrived in Italy – nearly 26,000 in 2016.

On March 30th, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was getting on a plane for his first official trip to Turkey.

(CPV) - ADB has approved a USD175 million loan to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) to help India diversify its power mix by increasing its supply of clean energy — particularly solar — and achieve energy security.

The US Senate has approved Montenegro joining the NATO alliance, which would make it the 29th member.