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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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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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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Representatives from six countries located in the Lancang-Mekong river basin joined an online meeting for the first time after the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic on Thursday to facilitate dialogue on establishing an information sharing platform to boost transparency and cooperation in water resources management. 

The officials attending the conference initiated by China initiated agreed that the coronavirus will not dampen their determination to participate in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) to boost regional sustainability.

The Chinese-built lower Stung Russei Chrum hydropower station, located in the jungles of Koh Kong province, southwestern Cambodia, for instance, has been kept smoothly running at full capacity during the COVID19 pandemic to provide reliable power for the socio-economic stability of Cambodia.

Proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2014 at the 17th China-ASEAN Summit, the LMC framework aims to bolster social and economic exchanges among the sub-regional countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – narrowing the development gap between state members and advancing South-South cooperation altogether.

The project-oriented framework aims to serve as an example of innovative regional cooperation seeking a win-win across several areas including cross-border economies, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction.

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Southeast Asian foreign ministers opened their annual meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday to discuss and further strengthen Asean community building and enhance regional cooperation.

Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith attended the 52nd Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings hosted by Thailand.

Those present included foreign ministers from Asean countries and their negotiation partners as well as from the guest countries of Timor-Leste, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Norway, Turkey and Switzerland.

Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha called on Asean member countries to deepen economic integration and boost prosperity in the region despite global challenges.

The Thai prime minister was quoted by Xinhua as saying that Asean must reinforce cooperative relations with its Dialogue Partners and other countries outside the region.

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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed an initiative to form a global network on sharing data on oceans and sea, towards a global framework on preventing marine plastic waste at a discussion on climate and environment within the framework of the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 29.

Addressing the event, the PM emphasised impacts of climate change, environmental pollution and energy insecurity on the mankind, while calling on countries to mobilise and allocate effectively resources and fully implement commitments in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

He also called for increased assistance from the international community to nations vulnerable to climate change, including the Mekong Delta region, to respond to environmental changes.

He emphasised plastic waste discharged into the sea harms the maritime ecological system, and proposed countries join hands in building institutions and regulations on seas and oceans so as to control, reduce and prevent marine plastic waste.

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Thailand is getting ready to welcome regional leaders ahead of the Asean Summit next week.

All the leaders of the 10 member countries will attend the 34th Asean Summit on June 22 and 23 in Bangkok, said Suriya Chindawongse, director-general of the Department of Asean Affairs.

Thailand is chairing the re­gional grouping this year, with a theme of “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”. The focus is on building a people-centred Asean Community “that leaves no one behind and looks to the future”, he said.

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