Asean

Ministers reaffirm commitment to conclude RCEP this year

Once concluded, RCEP would create a market of over 3.5 billion people accounting for about 30% of global trade. Its next negotiating round will be held in Da Nang, Viet Nam on 19-28 September.

Published

1 year ago

September 11, 2019

Asean News

ASEAN, Pacific Alliance reaffirm commitment to enhance relations

BANGKOK, 11 September 2019 – Economic ministers from countries participating in negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) gathered in Bangkok on 8 September determined to conclude the world’s largest trading bloc by the end of the year.

RCEP includes all ASEAN economies, plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. After seven years, negotiations have reached a critical milestone as the ministers are resolved to address the outstanding issues and conclude the pact.

“Negotiators should exercise maximum flexibility to close the negotiations,” said Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

Given today’s developments, concluding RCEP negotiations this year would provide the much-needed stability and certainty to benefit regional supply chains as well as the global markets for trade and investment. Dato Lim said that failure to do so will undermine the region’s trade and investment potential, putting market integration at risk.

Once concluded, RCEP would create a market of over 3.5 billion people accounting for about 30% of global trade. Its next negotiating round will be held in Da Nang, Viet Nam on 19-28 September.

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Asean

The Latest on Covid-19 in Southeast Asia

Thailand has largely avoided widespread community transmission of Covid-19, but the kingdom is not faring well on the economic front, with a projected contraction of 7.1 percent this year.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 5, 2020

Headline Editor

As a region, Southeast Asia has fared relatively well in keeping coronavirus cases low, with the notable exceptions of the Philippines and Indonesia.

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Laos

China’s debt-trap diplomacy: Laos’ credit rating downgraded to CCC

Laos’ debt challenge is deeply concerning, with some media commentators suggesting the country is falling into a debt trap as a result of Chinese infrastructure investments connected to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Published

3 weeks ago

November 2, 2020

Boris Sullivan

On 23 September, the Fitch Ratings agency downgraded Laos’ credit rating to CCC — the second downgrade in 2020, having dropped to B- in May.

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Vietnam

Foreign capital still heads to Vietnam

As many as 798 projects added a combined over 5.11 billion USD to their investment capital, down 23 percent year-on-year in project number but up 6.8 percent in value.

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2020

Bui Dung

Hanoi (VNA) – The total amount of foreign investment poured into Vietnam this year to September 20 reached 21.2 billion USD, equivalent to 81.8 percent of the same period last year, reported the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

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