Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations (Photo: VNA)
Geneva (VNA) - The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), andother international organisations, in its capacity as Chair of the ASEANCommittee in Geneva (ACG), organised an online meeting of the committee onDecember 14.
This was the last meeting of the committee during Vietnam’s chairmanship in 2020.
AmbassadorLe Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Vietnamese mission, briefed other ambassadors anddelegation heads of ASEAN member countries on the outcomes of the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in November as well as the achievements postedin 2020 while Vietnam was ASEAN Chair.
Shehighlighted Vietnam’s efforts and initiatives during the year, most notably itsproposal to designate December 27 - the birthday of scientist Louis Pasteur - as International Day ofEpidemic Preparedness.
Otherdelegates congratulated Vietnam on its outstanding fulfilment of the ASEANChairmanship in 2020 given the range of difficulties and challenges posed bythe COVID-19 pandemic.
Theyexchanged views on ASEAN’s role in activities of the UN and other internationalorganisations in Geneva.
Mai said ASEAN ambassadors and delegation heads and officials inGeneva have made all-out efforts to overcome the hurdles, especially COVID-19,and carried out consultations at different levels, thus contributing to promotingASEAN’s common voice.
At theend of the meeting, Mai handed over the ACG Chairmanship to Brunei Ambassador Dk Mazlizah Pg Hj Mahalee./.
With the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, Vietnam is not only an active ASEAN member but also a strong, trustworthy and special mainstay, especially at a time when ASEAN has to face challenges like COVID-19 pandemic at present, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The ASEAN Week 2020, which was hosted by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with a series of cultural, scientific and educational events, concluded on December 11, helping to strengthen ASEAN-Russia exchanges and cooperation.
A workshop marking the 10th anniversary of ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) was held both online and offline in Hanoi on December 14, focusing on ASEAN's cohesive and responsive approach to maritime cooperation.
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.
Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations (Photo: VNA) 
