Jakarta (VNA) – The Sub-regional MinisterialSteering Committee on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution (MSC) convened its 23rd meeting on July 5 via video conference.
Under the Chair of Dato Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man,Minister for Environment and Water of Malaysia, the event brought togetherMinisters/representatives responsible for the environment, for land, forestfires and haze, from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, andthe Secretary-General of ASEAN.
The meeting looked forward to the convening of the 17thMeeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on TransboundaryHaze Pollution (COP-17) this October in Singapore.
It expressed appreciation and commended the variousinitiatives and actions by MSC countries on the implementation of the StrategicReview of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee Programmes andActivities; and underscored the coordinated support of ASEAN SpecialisedMeteorological Centres (ASMC) and relevant agencies in providing data andinformation relating to land and /or forest fires for ASEAN and ASEAN MemberStates.
The meeting supported the outcomes of the Final Review ofthe Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Controlwith Means of Implementation that has allowed ASEAN Member States to take stockof the progress and sustain the momentum in ensuring demonstrable improvementsto achieve the vision of a haze-free ASEAN through the recommendations of arenewed Roadmap for ASEAN.
It looked forward to further strengthening commitment andcooperation through the adoption of the new Roadmap and new ASEAN PeatlandManagement Strategy at the upcoming COP-17 to comprehensively address the rootcauses of transboundary haze pollution, and to augment the assessment,prevention, mitigation and management of land and/or forest fires throughconcerted national efforts and intensified regional and internationalcooperation.
It also stressed the need to pursue the finalisation of theEstablishment Agreement and Host Country Agreement of the ASEAN CoordinatingCentre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) in Indonesia.
It valued the cooperation and support from ASEAN’s externalpartners to promote sustainable management of peatlands in the ASEAN region;and emphasised that strong support is needed from the MSC countries andrelevant agencies for the successful implementation of the activities of abovesaid programmes./.
The total damage and economic losses from forest fires in Indonesia this year has amounted to at least 5.2 billion USD, equal to 0.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, the World Bank said in a report on December 11.
Thailand is planning to seek cooperation from Myanmar and Laos to support the fight against haze and smog pollution amidst many forest fires detected in its northern and northeastern mountainous areas.
Indonesia has started cloud seeding to induce rain as the archipelago moves to head off annual forest fires blamed for blanketing swathes of Southeast Asia in toxic haze.
The ASEAN Secretariat has hosted an online conference to strengthen efforts, coordination and preparation for tackling transboundary haze pollution, which is predicted to peak in August and September.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
Illustration. (Photo: Getty Images)
