ASEAN, US sign Regional Development Cooperation Agreement
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and US Agency for International Development (USAID) Principal Officer to ASEAN Ryan Washburn have recently signed a Regional Development Cooperation Agreement (RDCA) between ASEAN and the US.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the ASEAN-US Ministerial Meeting on September 10. (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - ASEANSecretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and US Agency for International Development(USAID) Principal Officer to ASEAN Ryan Washburn have recently signed aRegional Development Cooperation Agreement (RDCA) between ASEAN and the US.
The RDCA will contributeto strengthening ties and continuing links of friendship between ASEAN and the US,advancing sustainable and inclusive growth and development. It will encouragerule-based systems in support of a peaceful, secure and prosperous ASEAN, inline with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN-US Plan of Action(2021-2025) and the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-US Special Summit.
Speaking at the signingceremony, Lim said the US shall continue to be one of ASEAN’s key dialoguepartners in the ASEAN Community building efforts. ASEAN looks forward tothe implementation of projects and programmes to be supported by the RDCA inresponse to current and emerging challenges.
He thanked the USGovernment, through the USAID and the US Mission to ASEAN, for its support tothe on-going initiatives and the future programmes under the RDCA.
For his part, Washburnsaid this new five-year agreement between USAID and ASEAN, with a value of upto 50 million USD, underscores the US commitment to regional development, ASEAN’scentrality, and the shared goals of regional integration and rules-basedgovernance to promote peace, security and prosperity in ASEAN.
The RDCA will serve asan umbrella framework for all the on-going and future ASEAN-US cooperationprogrammes to address regional and global challenges such as the COVID-19pandemic, human trafficking and forced labour, access to the digital economy,and coordinated responses to natural disasters.
The signing ceremonytook place at the ASEAN Secretariat during the side lines of the ASEAN-USMinisterial Meeting on September 10, marking another milestone of the ASEAN-USstrategic partnership and development cooperation./.
The US on September 9 introduced specific cooperation and support programmes for ASEAN member states, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the US-ASEAN Strategic Partnership.
The US Department of State has extended congratulations and highlighted major achievements in the cooperation with Vietnam on the occasion of the ongoing 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-53) and related meetings hosted by Vietnam, and the 25th anniversary of bilateral ties.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on September 11 issued a press statement affirming the enduring commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the ASEAN-US Ministerial Meeting on September 10. (Photo: VNA) 
