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☆ Saudi Arabia, UAE leaders meet as Israel-Hamas war threatens to spill over
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi state news agency SPA showed footage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, receiving UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Riyadh's airport. Public meetings between the crown prince and Sheikh Mohammed have been rare in recent years as the close allies competed for investment and regional influence. Sheikh Mohammed attended a summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh on Friday, Saudi and UAE state media said. Last year, Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Mohammed met when Prince Mohammed visited Abu Dhabi to offer his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE's previous president. Sheikh Mohammed also visited Jeddah last year, and the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November.

Persons: Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed, Prince Mohammed, Abu, Sheikh Khalifa, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Defence, United Arab Emirates, Gulf Cooperation Council, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, GCC, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Israel, East, Riyadh's, Riyadh, UAE, Iran, Gaza, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah

☆ China's Xi wants to expand cooperation with Indonesia in several key markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a ceremony to welcome participants of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - China is willing to expand and strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in emerging industries such as the digital economy, photovoltaics and new energy vehicles, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. In October, Widodo inaugurated a $7.3 billion high-speed railway connecting the country's capital with the city of Bandung. Widodo said Indonesia regards China as an important strategic partner in national economic development and construction, and "looks forward to further strengthening communication and cooperation with China," state media reported. Reporting by Ethan Wang and Bernard Orr; editing by Christina Fincher and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Sergei Savostyanov, Xi, Joko Widodo, Widodo, Ethan Wang, Bernard Orr, Christina Fincher, Chizu Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, Rights, China Central Television, Initiative, of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Indonesia, Bandung

☆ China's exports and imports drop again in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In U.S.-dollar terms, exports fell by 6.2% last month from a year ago. China's exports have fallen on a year-on-year basis every month this year starting in May. The last positive print for imports on a year-on-year basis was in September last year. For the first three quarters of the year, China's exports to the U.S. fell by 16.4%, while imports dropped by 6% during that time. The volume of China's cosmetics imports fell by 14.2% in the first three quarters compared to a year ago.

Organizations: Future Publishing, Getty, Imports, Reuters, European Union, CNBC, Association of Southeast, Nations, EU, U.S, Monetary Fund, Initiative Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, BEIJING, China, U.S, Russia, Europe, Southeast Asia

Reuters reviewed a confidential draft of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) "guide to AI ethics and governance," whose content has not previously been reported. In contrast to the EU's AI Act, the ASEAN "AI guide" asks companies to take countries' cultural differences into consideration and doesn’t prescribe unacceptable risk categories, according to the current version reviewed. With almost 700 million people and over a thousand ethnic groups and cultures, Southeast Asian countries have widely divergent rules governing censorship, misinformation, public content and hate speech that would likely affect AI regulation. The ASEAN guide advises companies to put in place an AI risk assessment structure and AI governance training, but leaves specifics to companies and local regulators. EU officials and lawmakers told Reuters that the bloc would continue to hold talks with Southeast Asian states to align over broader principles.

Persons: Stephen Braim, Alexandra van Huffelen, Fanny Potkin, Supantha Mukherjee, Panu, Sam Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN Digital, Companies, IBM, Google, ASEAN, Technology, United States, NIST, U.S . Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards, Meta, Southeast, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, STOCKHOLM, Thailand, United, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Brussels, Singapore, Stockholm, Bangkok

☆ ASEAN nations to prioritise members' rice needs - Malaysia state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries have agreed to prioritise helping each other overcome rice supply shortages and other food-related problems, Malaysia state news agency Bernama reported, citing the agricultural minister. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached the agreement at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said on Friday, according to the agency. "ASEAN collaboration means if we face rice issues, ASEAN member countries will give priority to ASEAN nations first," he said. Malaysia, which imports about 38% of its rice needs, is among several countries affected by top exporters like India restricting shipments. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned of legal action against anyone found hoarding rice, to prevent consumers from stockpiling local grains.

Persons: Bernama, Mohamad Sabu, Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Danial Azhar, William Mallard Organizations: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Food Security, Monday, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Agriculture, ASEAN, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India

☆ Indonesia defends haze-fighting effort after Malaysia urges action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Ananda Teresia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

No haze has been detected heading for Malaysia, however, Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya said, a day after it urged Indonesia and fellow Southeast Asian nations to take action against worsening air quality. "We are already working to prevent and extinguish fires, but not based on Malaysia's request," the minister told Reuters. Indonesia is using helicopters to quench the fires with water bombing while inducing rain with cloud seeding methods, Siti Nurbaya said. In 2015 and 2019, such fires burned millions of hectares of land in Indonesia and sent haze billowing across several Southeast Asian countries, generating record-breaking emissions, scientists have said. Southeast Asian agriculture and forestry officials agreed on Friday to take action to minimise, and eventually stamp out, crop burning.

Persons: Antara, Haze, Siti Nurbaya, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Lax, Rozanna Latiff, Danial, Kanupriya Kapoor, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: ASEAN, Reuters, Malaysian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, ASEAN Indonesia, JAKARTA, cloudseeding, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysian, Danial Azhar, Kuala Lumpur

☆ What's causing the chronic haze across Southeast Asia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Despite pleas by Malaysia this week not to "normalise" the haze, Indonesia has flatly denied any responsibility. Global consumption of palm oil, used in a wide range of products such as cookies, candles and as a cooking oil, is growing rapidly. Palm oil is the world's most used edible oil, accounting for 60% of global vegetable oil exports. For Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, the product is one of the biggest export earners after coal. Export earnings from palm oil and its derivatives stood at $39.28 billion in 2022, according to the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.

Persons: Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Ananda Teresia, Kate Lamb, Bernadette Christina, Naveen Thukral Organizations: of Southeast Asian Nations, Control, ACC, El, Greenpeace, Indonesian Palm Oil Association, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Southeast Asia, Indonesian, WHAT'S, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Singapore, Greenpeace Indonesia

☆ Explainer: What's causing the chronic haze across Southeast Asia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ 'Haze Cannot Be the Norm': Malaysia Urges Indonesia to Take Action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Danial AzharKUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia called on neighbour Indonesia and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations to take action as air quality worsens across the country due to fires in Indonesia, its environment minister told Reuters on Thursday. Air quality has hit unhealthy levels in several parts of Malaysia in recent days, with Kuala Lumpur blaming fires in Indonesia -- though Jakarta has denied detecting any smoke drifting over its borders into Malaysia. Fires that sent haze billowing across the region in 2015 and 2019 burned millions of hectares of land and produced record-breaking emissions, according to scientists. He called for joint action by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) either through legislation or agreement to prevent the yearly haze. He said Malaysia was still "seriously" considering a law similar to Singapore that holds companies liable for air pollution.

Persons: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, polluters, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Azhar KUALA LUMPUR, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN Locations: Azhar KUALA, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singapore

☆ 'Haze cannot be the norm': Malaysia urges Indonesia to take action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Danial Azhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia called on neighbour Indonesia and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations to take action as air quality worsens across the country due to fires in Indonesia, its environment minister told Reuters on Thursday. Air quality has hit unhealthy levels in several parts of Malaysia in recent days, with Kuala Lumpur blaming fires in Indonesia -- though Jakarta has denied detecting any smoke drifting over its borders into Malaysia. Fires that sent haze billowing across the region in 2015 and 2019 burned millions of hectares of land and produced record-breaking emissions, according to scientists. He called for joint action by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) either through legislation or agreement to prevent the yearly haze. He said Malaysia was still "seriously" considering a law similar to Singapore that holds companies liable for air pollution.

Persons: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, polluters, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singapore

☆ Australia PM rallies support for Indigenous referendum as early voting starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAGUS INDAHONO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he would focus on having one-on-one conversations with Australians to rally support for the Indigenous referendum, as early voting began in some parts of the country. In a landmark referendum, Australians will decide on Oct. 14 whether to approve altering the constitution to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body called the "Voice to Parliament" that can give advice on matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The proposal, backed by Albanese's Labor government, has been struggling to get majority support with recent opinion polls showing voters will reject it. In a bid to mobilise support, Albanese said if Australians are focused on what the question is from the referendum amid the distractions, they will vote yes, and there is nothing to fear from this campaign. Early voting on the referendum in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory will begin on Tuesday.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joko Widodo, BAGUS, Albanese, Stella Qiu, Lincoln Organizations: Australia's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Australian, Torres Strait, Albanese's Labor, Aboriginal, Australian Capital, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Melbourne, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory

BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Friday there was a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi. "Because there is freedom of speech, to make threats and intimidate diplomats, I don't think that's acceptable," Jaishankar told reporters on Friday evening in Washington. Canada is home to an influential Sikh community, and Indian leaders say some fringe groups there remain sympathetic to the cause of an independent Sikh state. The insurgency killed tens of thousands of people and the Khalistan movement is considered a security threat by the Indian government. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 by two Sikh bodyguards after she allowed the storming of the holiest Sikh temple, aimed at flushing out Sikh separatists.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Jaishankar, Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Trudeau, Indira Gandhi, Kanishka Singh, Leslie Adler Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Rights, Indian, Washington . Relations, Canadian, Air, Air India Boeing, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Canada, New Delhi, Washington, India, Punjab, Air India

☆ India told Canada it is open to looking into specific information on Sikh separatist killing -Jaishankar
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar looks on as he delivers his speech in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post Ministerial Conference with India during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jakarta, on July 13, 2023, where Myanmar's seat was left empty. BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said on Tuesday that India has told Canada it was open to looking into any specific information it provides on the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event, Jaishankar said India had told Canada, "This is not the government of India's policy," after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Canada was pursuing "credible allegations" that Indian government agents may be linked to the killing. Reporting by Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh, Jaishankar, Justin Trudeau, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Leslie Adler Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, Foreign Relations, Canada, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, India, Canada

These include power plants built by industrial firms such as nickel smelters for their own consumption. Under JETP, Indonesia is committed to cap and peak power sector's carbon emissions at 290 million metric tons by 2030. How does Indonesia plan to deploy JETP funds? Indonesia also wants JETP to finance the early retirement of some of its coal power plants, however some banks are reluctant to finance these early retirement for fear of being seen as financing coal projects. Indonesia is also considering expanding the green label to loans for coal power plants used by industries that make products considered sustainable, such as batteries for electric vehicles (EV).

Persons: JETP, Quoc Khanh, Tran Hong Ha, Fransiska Nangoy, Khanh Vu, Florence Tan Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Natural Resources, Deputy, EV, Marine Spatial, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, HANOI, Indonesia, South Africa, Vietnam, INDONESIA Indonesia, JETP, VIETNAM

☆ Indonesia's EV ambitions could help boost investments in the rest of Southeast Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Quek Jie Ann | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Korean automobile manufacturer Kia displays the electric vehicle "EV6 GT-Line" during the 30th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang on August 10, 2023. Indonesia's EV-friendly policies have lured global investors to the country, but experts say they could also boost investments in Southeast Asia's automotive industry more broadly. Indonesia could be the "gateway" to the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Anindya Novyan Bakrie, CEO and president director of Bakrie & Brothers, an Indonesian conglomerate whose electric vehicle unit VKTR manufactures electric buses as well as EV parts. The Southeast Asian country is rich in copper, nickel, cobalt and bauxite — materials essential for the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the largest nickel exporter, accounting for 22% of the world's reserves, according to a report by the ASEAN Briefing.

Persons: Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Tesla Organizations: Kia, Indonesia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Bakrie, Brothers, ASEAN, BMI Fitch Solutions, CNBC Locations: Indonesia, Tangerang, Indonesian

☆ China, resource-rich East Timor upgrade bilateral ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He said he would continue to foster a relationship with the United States, but added that East Timor would not be implicated in any rivalry between Beijing and Washington. East Timor welcomes strong ties with all countries, including its southern neighbour Australia, Ramos-Horta said last year. Upgrading their ties, China and East Timor agreed to cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative championed by Xi, that could open the way for investment in infrastructure. China sent its military-run hospital ship to the Pacific in July to visit countries including East Timor and the Solomon islands. In a joint declaration, released on state run China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday, China said it would provide help for East Timor's economic and societal development.

Persons: Xanana Gusmao, Mast, Xi Jinping, Jose Ramos, Ramos, Horta, Xi, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Timor's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, East Timor's, Asian Games, East, Washington . East Timor, Initiative, Pacific, China Central Television, Greater, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China, East Timor, Beijing, Hangzhou, Horta, United States, Timor, Washington . East, Australia, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Solomon, Greater Sunrise

☆ Supply chains may be moving out of China and into Asia — but they aren't really decoupling from the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Supply chains are diversifying away from China, causing a shift in global-trade patterns. Data shows that while manufacturing activity for end products has been moving out of China, supply chains haven't decoupled from the country. "Companies are moving manufacturing processes to other countries, including parts of Asia and North America, to diversify their supply chains. Companies are moving their supply chains out of China. As Insider reported in April, even Chinese companies are moving their supply chains out of China to avoid risks.

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden, Misha Govshteyn, Nomura, Sonal Varma, reexported, —, Frederic Neumann, Yukon Huang, Genevieve Slosberg, Lu Yucong, Carnegie's Huang, MaroFab's Govshteyn Organizations: Service, Apple, Mazda, Asia Supply, Nomura Holdings, East, HSBC, Association of Southeast, Nations, Carnegie Asia Program, Financial Times Locations: China, Southeast Asia, Wall, Silicon, Asia, Washington, Beijing, Vietnam, Bangladesh, North America, Houston, South Korea, Hong Kong, China's, India, Japan, Europe, Yukon, America, United States, Guangdong

☆ ASEAN kicks off its first-ever joint military drills in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Yuddy Cahya Budiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indonesian soldiers attend the opening ceremony of a joint-military drills ASEAN Solidarity Exercise at Batu Ampar port on Batam island, Indonesia, September 19, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Teguh Prihatna/ via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBATAM, Indonesia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Units from the countries of ASEAN began their first ever joint military drills in Indonesia's South Natuna Sea amid rising geopolitical tensions between major powers and protests against China's activities in the South China Sea. The training is more about social activities," Yudo Margono, Indonesia's military chief, told reporters after the opening ceremony on the Indonesian island of Batam on Tuesday. The exercises were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing. ASEAN has been discussing a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea for more than twenty years with little progress to date.

Persons: Antara, Ferdinand Marcos, Indonesia's Margono, Ananda Teresia, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East, ASEAN Summit, Thomson Locations: Batu Ampar, Indonesia, South Natuna, South China, East Timor, Indonesian, Batam, Beijing, The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Jakarta, Philippine, Philippines, ASEAN

☆ Analysis-More SE Asia firms consider U.S. IPOs, filling void left by China peers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Yantoultra Ngui | Scott Murdoch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

“These factors have enabled some of their ASEAN rivals to step out into the spotlight.”ASEAN, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, includes Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. For investors seeking emerging market exposure, Southeast Asia fits the bill, because of the region’s strong economic growth and increasing population, analysts say. Some Southeast Asia companies seeking listings in the U.S. look to raise between $300 million and $1 billion, with valuations ranging from $1.5 billion to $8 billion, bankers said, without naming any firms. “International investors are seeing the value of portfolio diversification that Southeast Asia provides,” Tay added. The expected pickup in Southeast Asian listings, however, could get derailed by share volatility and stringent investor scrutiny, analysts say.

Persons: ”, Leif Schneider, Sunil Khaitan, Kelvin Teo, Andrew Lim, Tay Hwee Ling, ” Tay, Anuruk Karoonyavanich Organizations: Nasdaq, REUTERS, Gushcloud International, Sunday, Reuters, VNG Corp, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Carsome, Southeast, Bank, America’s, “, U.S ., ’, Companies, Deloitte, “ International, DBS Locations: SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, United States, New York City, U.S, Singapore, New York, Philippine, Washington, Beijing, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Asia, Indonesia, Southeast, Southeast Asia, China

ASEAN, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, includes Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. For investors seeking emerging market exposure, Southeast Asia fits the bill, because of the region's strong economic growth and increasing population, analysts say. Some Southeast Asia companies seeking listings in the U.S. look to raise between $300 million and $1 billion, with valuations ranging from $1.5 billion to $8 billion, bankers said, without naming any firms. "International investors are seeing the value of portfolio diversification that Southeast Asia provides," Tay added. The expected pickup in Southeast Asian listings, however, could get derailed by share volatility and stringent investor scrutiny, analysts say.

Persons: DoubleDragon, Leif Schneider, Sunil Khaitan, Kelvin Teo, Andrew Lim, Tay Hwee Ling, Tay, Anuruk Karoonyavanich, Yantoultra Ngui, Scott Murdoch, Sumeet Chatterjee, Miral Organizations: Nasdaq, REUTERS, U.S, IPOs, Gushcloud International, Sunday, Reuters, VNG Corp, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Carsome, Southeast, Bank, America's, U.S ., Deloitte, International, DBS, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Asia, SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, United States, Singapore, New York, Philippine, Washington, Beijing, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Southeast, Southeast Asia, China, Sydney

☆ Cambodia’s new Prime Minister Hun Manet heads to close ally China for his first official trip abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet headed to Beijing on Thursday on his first official trip abroad since taking office last month in a demonstration of his country's warm relations with China, its closest political and economic ally. He is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other officials on the three-day trip, according to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry. Cambodia is a key Chinese diplomatic partner and supporter in regional and international forums. It helps dampen criticism of Beijing within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, several of whose members are engaged in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. More than 40% of Cambodia's $10 billion in foreign debt is owed to China.

Persons: Hun Manet, Xi Jinping Organizations: Cambodian, Foreign Ministry, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Beijing, China, Cambodia, South China, Phnom Penh

☆ Canada could tax big grocery chains over rising food prices - Trudeau
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his remarks during the ASEAN-Canada Summit as part of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 September 2023. ADI WEDA/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Canada could impose new taxes on major grocery chains if they do not come up with a convincing plan to limit the rise of food prices, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday. Trudeau said the heads of the largest chains would be summoned to Ottawa with a plan to address rising prices. The deadline for this is Oct. 9, he said at the end of a meeting of his ruling Liberal Party in London, Ontario. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, David Ljunggren, Leslie Adler Organizations: Canada's, ASEAN, Canada, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Liberal Party, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Canada, Ottawa, London , Ontario

☆ UN rights expert urges US to go further with sanctions against Myanmar junta
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights expert for Myanmar on Wednesday called on the United States to further tighten sanctions on the country's military rulers to include their main revenue source, the state oil and gas enterprise. Andrews praised Washington for imposing sanctions on the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank in June, but said more needed to be done. I urge the U.S. to join the European Union and immediately impose sanctions on the junta's single largest source of revenue, the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise," Andrews said. In January, the United States targeted the managing director and deputy managing director of the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise with sanctions, but has yet to go further against the firm, despite the urgings of rights groups and dissidents. Myanmar military officials have played down the impact of sanctions and say their air strikes target insurgents.

Persons: Tom Andrews, Andrews, Congress's Tom Lantos, Washington, David Brunnstrom, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Myanmar, U.S . Congress, Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, Myanma Investment, Commercial Bank, European Union, Gas Enterprise, United, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, Jakarta, Indonesia, United States, Washington, U.S, Bangladesh, Russia, China

☆ China, Europe should 'unite and co-operate', Premier Li says at G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Premier Li Qiang leaves after attending the East Asia Summit at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. Achmad Ibrahim/Pool via REUTERS/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 10 (Reuters) - China and Europe should "unite and co-operate" against global uncertainties, Premier Li Qiang told the European Union chief on the sidelines of the annual G20 summit in New Delhi. "Risk prevention does not preclude co-operation, interdependence should not be equated with insecurity," Li told EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. "China and the EU should further unite and co-operate, and use the stability of China-EU relations as a hedge against the uncertainty of the world situation," it quoted Li as saying. Li was attending the summit as a representative of President Xi Jinping, who did not attend.

Persons: Li Qiang, Achmad Ibrahim, Li's, Li, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping, Yew Lun, Michael Perry, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: East Asia Summit, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China, Europe, New Delhi, EU

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