Asean
Japan Urges ASEAN to Include United States
Japan has urged Southeast Asian leaders to establish an east asian community that could include the United States as a member. During meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Thailand Japan’s prime minister said the economic bloc should be an open organization.
During a second day of summit meetings, Japan’s prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, encouraged heads of Southeast Asian nations to build a strong economic community that could act as a world leader.
But he indicated Japan wanted the United States to play a strong role in the region, perhaps as a member of a new body.
Japanese spokesman Kazuo Kodama said the prime minister told the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that the Japan-U.S. alliance was the fundamental cornerstone of Japan’s diplomatic policy.
“At the same time, he said, he now upholds a long-term vision of establishing an East Asia Community in accordance with the open regionalism,” said Kazuo Kodama. “He very much intends to promote intra-regional cooperation in east Asia.”
Kazuo said ASEAN had yet to discuss if the U.S. would be invited to join any community and it was not clear if any other leaders attending the meetings supported Japan’s position.
ASEAN has vowed to form an East Asian economic community by 2015 similar to the European Union, but there is no consensus on which countries outside of ASEAN would be allowed to join.
The 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met Saturday with leaders from China, Japan, South Korea, and India.
ASEAN also issued a statement expressing concern about North Korea’s nuclear programs and that Burma’s elections scheduled for next year be free and fair. But, unlike past ASEAN statements, this one made no mention of the ongoing detention of Burma’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and more than two thousand other political prisoners.
via VOA News – Japan Urges ASEAN to Include US.
Vietnam
Vietnam: Manufacturing to remain the key driver of growth
We expect robust exports, led by strong global demand for electronics, to continue to underpin solid economic growth over the remainder of this year with GDP forecast to rise close to 8%.

GDP growth was unchanged at 4.5% y/y in Q1. Manufacturing activity surged, while the recovery in service sector activity and construction continued albeit at a more subdued pace as some localised social distancing measures were reinstated.
Vietnam
Vietnam Lao Cai popularises Sa Pa-Fansipan tourism trademark

Lao Cai (VNA) –The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has built a strategy to popularise the Sa Pa- Fansipan tourism trademark till 2025 with a vision to 2030.
Asean
The Indonesia-Singapore Bilateral Investment Treaty Comes into Effect
Through the upgraded DTAA, the tax rate on branch profits was reduced from 15 to 10 percent, and the tax rate on royalties for copyrighted works of literature, arts, and film, and eight percent for the use of industrial, scientific, or commercial equipment was lowered from 15 to 10 percent.

The latest Indonesia-Singapore Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) came into effect on March 9, 2021, and replaces the previous BIT, which was signed in June 2006 and expired in June 2016.
- National1 week ago
Abuse against women still prevalent in Thailand
- Vietnam1 week ago
Vietnam: Manufacturing to remain the key driver of growth
- Vietnam1 week ago
Vietnam Lao Cai popularises Sa Pa-Fansipan tourism trademark
- Business1 week ago
Asia-Pacific sees 3.9% growth in deal activity in February 2021