Vladivostok (VNA) – A business dialogue session between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place in Vladivostok on September 4 as part of the ongoing 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024).

At the opening of the event, Daniyar Akkaziev, CEO of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, affirmed that Russia values its cooperation with ASEAN, considering the region’s rapid and diverse development potential in the Asia-Pacific.

With the sides signing a strategic partnership agreement in 2016 and Russia joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2004, he noted the moves are prerequisites for Russia to strengthen its dialogue with bloc member countries.

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Confirming that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will pay an official visit to China, China’s Foreign Ministry said that the visit fully demonstrates the high level of China-Cambodia relations. Experts believe that the two countries will play an exemplary role in Southeast Asia and will help to promote the development plans of more members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the Cambodian premier will visit China from Thursday to Saturday, China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. 

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The post Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s visit to China set to improve ties, accelerate efforts to achieve development goals in Southeast Asia: experts first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Since its adoption of a market economy in the last 1980s, Vietnam has become what some have referred to as a new “Asian Tiger.” Over the last 25 years, Vietnam’s economy has enjoyed an average annual growth rate of more than 6 percent. Between 1994 and 2014, 40 million people were lifted out of poverty, lowering the poverty rate from nearly 60 percent to 14 percent. These results have allowed the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to enjoy significant domestic legitimacy.

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The post Why LGBT Rights Trump Environmentalism in Vietnam first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

In an attempt to continue promoting young women’s rights and gender equality, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs led the commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child in the Kingdom in partnership with Plan International Cambodia.

The celebration presided over by Im Sithe, Secretary of State of Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in Phnom Penh has seen the presence of more than 100 participants, including government officials from relevant ministries and NGO partners yesterday.

Im Sithe said that the women deserve the opportunities to live their lives same as men, they have their own rights, decision-making powers and freedom. Therefore , the government considers protecting the women’s right, especially young girls’,  as top most priority to help them live their dreams.

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The post Vietnam to mobilise $360 billion for sustainable development targets first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

The upcoming Việt Nam visit by Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh during January 8-10, the first by the Lao leader in his position, will help reinforce the bilateral ties and create motivation for their comprehensive partnership in 2022, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyễn Bá Hùng has said.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the visit, the diplomat said the visit shows the neighbouring country’s consistent foreign policy as well as the determination of both sides in further promoting the bilateral special ties and the joint statement issued last June.

He noted that the special and unique relationship between Việt Nam and Laos has been growing despite the impacts of COVID-19, with deepened ties in politics, security-defence, economy, science-technology, culture, education-training. Two-way trade rose about 14 per cent in 2021, he added.

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The post Xi-Asean summit boosts China’s plan to upgrade Southeast Asia ties to comprehensive strategic partnership first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, or End Poverty Day as it is often known, one of the most important days on the calendar for people working in governments and development agencies all over the world.

Let me be clear: poverty is not a problem specific to Laos, and not even a problem confined to less developed countries. There are poor people everywhere in the world, often living in the richest cities that humans have built.

This is an issue which should concern us all, for there are enough resources in the world for everybody to live comfortably, without suffering lack of food, shelter, education, healthcare, and all the other markers that are used to indicate poverty. On End Poverty Day, we try to increase awareness of this and call for actions that actively address poverty.

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The post End Poverty — Build a More Resilient Economy in Lao PDR first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

The UN’s top humanitarian official in Myanmar said on Thursday the country’s people are living in “a severe crisis,” with a level of poverty not seen for at least 20 years.

In a virtual briefing for UN correspondents, Andrew Kirkwood said the number of people in the country needing aid has tripled to 3 million since the military takeover on Feb. 1, while a total of 20 million are living in poverty, or nearly half the population, AP news reported.

Speaking from Yangon, Kirkwood said the crisis is the result of increasing communal strife, the military ouster of the country’s democratically elected government and the coronavirus pandemic, which saw “a devastating third wave” of infections this summer.

“So, effectively, what we have here is a crisis, on top of a crisis with yet another crisis on top of that,” he said.

Since Feb. 1, Kirkwood said, the UN food and cash assistance program has reached more than 1.4 million people in rural communities all around Myanmar as well as in some urban and semi-urban centers.

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The post UN Says Poverty in Myanmar at Worst Level in 20 Years Following Coup first appeared on Open Development Mekong.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged a closer connection and stronger political mutual trust among Mekong countries amid challenges, including the uncertain world economy and the still rampant COVID-19 pandemic at the 7th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Leaders’ Summit held on Thursday via video conference. Experts said political trust is the cornerstone of the GMS mechanism, warning that intervention from other countries remains a challenge but will not shake members’ determination to cooperate.

The summit, chaired by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, centered on the theme of strengthening partnership and coping with new challenges, focusing on high-priority sub-regional projects in the fields of traffic, energy, agriculture, tourism, and urban development. 

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The post Enhanced political trust key for Mekong countries to cope with challenges: Premier Li first appeared on Open Development Mekong.