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☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ 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

Afterward the summit, Biden and Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will meet in Hanoi and are expected to announce plans to tighten economic cooperation. The Chinese economy is weighed down by a property bubble, local government debt, high youth unemployment and a broader inability to rebound as expected from pandemic lockdowns. But so far this year, the U.S. economy has outperformed expectations as the Chinese economy has underperformed. Still, China’s economic challenges could create more geopolitical risk as economics can often inform national security strategies. At an August fundraiser in Utah, Biden called China's economy a “ticking time bomb.”“When bad folks have problems, they do bad things,” the president said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Nguyen Phu Trong, ”, Colleen Cottle, Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, ” Raimondo, ” Biden, Xi, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Yun Sun, Narendra Modi, Modi, Tracy Brown Organizations: WASHINGTON, Group, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Biden, South China, White, Associated Press, U.S, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, White House, IMF, Stimson, Indian Locations: India, Vietnam, United States, China, White, New Delhi, Hanoi, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, South, Washington, U.S, Beijing, Jakarta, Indonesia, The U.S, Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos, Mongolia, Utah, Ukraine

☆ UN chief spotlights worsening rights in Myanmar as journalist jailed for 20 years for cyclone coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sai Zaw Thaike was in western Rakhine state to report on the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Mocha, which killed over 140 people and caused widespread destruction. He was arrested by junta soldiers in the state capital Sittwe on May 23, Myanmar Now reported. Sai Zaw Thaike, a photojournalist for the independent news website Myanmar Now, works at his desk in Yangon, Myanmar in August 2020. “Myanmar authorities’ grotesque 20-year sentencing of Myanmar Now journalist Sai Zaw Thaike on blatantly bogus charges is an outrage and should be immediately reversed,” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative said in a statement. “Myanmar’s junta must stop imprisoning members of the press for merely doing their jobs as reporters.”CNN has not been able to immediately reach the Myanmar junta.

Persons: CNN — Myanmar’s, General António Guterres, “, Guterres, Sai Zaw Thaike, Sai Zaw, Swe Win, ”, Cyclone, ” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s, Suu Kyi, Farhan Haq, Suu, Min Aung, Kamala Harris Organizations: CNN, United Nations ’, UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, People’s Defense Forces, AP, Protect Journalists, Southeast, ” CNN, Myanmar, Reuters Locations: Myanmar, Rakhine, Indonesia’s, Jakarta, Sittwe, Sai, Yangon, AP Myanmar, Southeast Asia, ”, Philippines, United States

On Wednesday, China's Li warned against starting a "new Cold War" and warned countries against taking sides in any conflict. Harris, attending the meetings instead of President Joe Biden, reiterated a U.S. commitment to the region. "The United States has an enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and more broadly to the Indo-Pacific," she said. A White House official said earlier the U.S. shared interests with ASEAN in "upholding the rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, in the face of China's unlawful maritime claims and provocative actions". The Chinese premier and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met briefly on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday and discussed Japan's release into the sea of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Fumio, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joko, Kamala Harris, Li Qiang, Sergei Lavrov, China's Li, Harris, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Japan's, ASEAN, Russian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, White, U.S, Japanese, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Fumio Kishida, South, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, South China, Myanmar, Korea, Russia, United States, Southeast Asia, China, Laos

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — It took more than a day of flying, including two refueling stops, for Vice President Kamala Harris to reach this year’s summit of Southeast Asian countries. Political Cartoons on World Leaders View All 226 ImagesPolitical Cartoons View All 1146 ImagesThis was her third trip to Southeast Asia since taking office — Harris heads back to Washington on Thursday — and she's visited more countries here than any other region. Harris' approval ratings remain underwater, and her announcements in Southeast Asia tend to be counted in the millions of dollars rather than the billions. “Everybody works their own way.”Harris' travel to Southeast Asia began in her first year in office, when she visited Singapore and Vietnam, but the trip almost didn't happen. But she’s put in the work," said Gregory B. Poling, who directs the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, ” Harris, — Harris, she's, “, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden’s, she’s, Sullivan, Dinna Prapto, Phil Gordon, ” Gordon, Gregory B, Poling, David Rothkopf, Bill Clinton, there’s “, Biden didn't, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, it’s, Edna Tarigan Organizations: United, Associated Press, Lowy Institute, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, U.S, ”, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Economic Cooperation, AP Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, United States, Washington, Southeast Asia, China, Central America, Asia, Australia, Beijing, Jakarta, Singapore, Vietnam, Afghanistan, South China, Thailand, Philippines, U.S, Philippine, Palawan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Australia and China opened their first high-level dialogue in three years Thursday in a sign of a slight thaw to relations between countries that have clashed on everything from human rights to COVID-19 origins to trade. Australia's current Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sought to stabilize the two countries' relationship since her party won elections last year. China's and Australia’s relations sank to low depths during the pandemic. In response, China effectively blocked out Australian barley in 2020 by imposing an 80.5% tariff, widely regarded in Australia as punishment. “We continue to advocate for positive progress on the cases of Australians detained in China,” Emerson said.

Persons: ”, Craig Emerson, Li Zhaoxing, Penny Wong, Anthony Albanese, China's Premier Li Qiang, “, Premier Li, ” Albanese, Xi Jinping, Cheng Lei, ” Emerson Organizations: —, Australian, U.S, Australia's, China's Premier, Association of Southeast, Nations, Huawei Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, — Australia, China, Beijing, U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Asia, asia

☆ Indonesia proposes critical minerals trade deal with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ride on an escalator during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia has asked the United States to begin talks on a trade deal for critical minerals so that exports from the Southeast Asian country can be covered under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, an Indonesian ministry said on Thursday. Indonesia does not have a free trade agreement with the United States, but the resource-rich country has ambitions to become a major player in the manufacturing of EVs and their batteries, leveraging its vast nickel reserves. "Indonesia invites the U.S. to discuss the formation of the Critical Mineral Agreement," Jokowi added. Harris, during the opening speech of the bilateral meeting, said she would continue to work with Indonesia to build supply chains that included "critical minerals required to expand our clean energy economies" and to boost trade between the two countries through IPEF.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Kamala Harris, Willy Kurniawan, EVs, Jokowi, Luhut Pandjaitan, Harris, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: ASEAN Summit, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Economic, EV, IPEF, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, United States, Washington, North America, U.S, Indonesian, Japan

☆ UN chief says global finance system fragmenting; Myanmar crisis worsens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during his bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. In a wide-ranging speech that touched on geopolitical tension, multilateral development finance and climate change, Guterres called on world leaders to find peaceful and inclusive solutions to the challenges facing the world. He also voiced support for re-channelling an additional $100 billion of International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights through multilateral development banks to increase liquidity and support developing economies' needs. At a Paris summit in June this year, world leaders backed a push for multilateral development banks like the World Bank to put more capital at risk to boost lending. ASEAN leaders are set to hold talks with the United Nations later on Thursday.

Persons: General Antonio Guterres, Joko Widodo, Tatan, António Guterres, Rich, Ajay Banga, Guterres, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Monetary, Bank, World Bank, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, China, United States, Paris, Myanmar, ASEAN

☆ US Vice President Harris calls North Korea-Russia military support 'huge mistake'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Achmad Ibrahim/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said it would be a "huge mistake" for North Korea to exchange military support with Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. "I think it would be a huge mistake. The idea that they would be supplying ammunition to that end, is -- would be a huge mistake. I also believe very strongly that for both Russia and North Korea, this will further isolate them," Harris said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday warned Kim that his country would pay a price for supplying Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Achmad Ibrahim, Harris, Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, Jake Sullivan, Kim, Doina Chiacu, Andrea Ricci Organizations: East Asia Summit, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Ukraine, CBS News, CBS, White House, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, North Korea, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Australia to Host ASEAN Leaders in Melbourne Next March
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lewis JacksonSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will host leaders from Southeast Asia's ASEAN bloc in Melbourne next March for a special summit to commemorate 50 years of relations, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday as he announced a new investment strategy for the region. Albanese told reporters in Jakarta he had written to all the bloc's leaders inviting them to the "significant event", set to run from 4 March to 6 March. Albanese has travelled to Jakarta for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit at a time when Australia is strengthening relations across Asia in a bid to build economic and diplomatic alternatives to China. ASEAN was vital to Australia's future, Albanese said in a speech to the summit. The strategy comes with 75 recommendations including using government agencies to help underwrite infrastructure investment in the region.

Persons: Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Kamala Harris, Li Qiang, Lewis Jackson, Christopher Cushing Organizations: ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.S Locations: Australia, Southeast, Melbourne, Jakarta, Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, India

☆ China's Li promotes greater cooperation with Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

China's Premier Li Qiang (L) is greeted by Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo upon his arrival at the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 September 2023. Indonesia will host the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits on 05 to 07 September 2023. MAST IRHAM/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 6 (Reuters) - China wants to work with Indonesia to expand cooperation in various areas including green energy, the digital economy, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence, China's foreign ministry reported on Wednesday, citing Premier Li Qiang. Li, in Indonesia for a regional summit, told a late Tuesday dinner with business leaders that they should be confident in cooperation, after weak economic data indicating a slowdown in China had raised doubts in other markets about China's rise. China hoped that Indonesia would maintain its open market open and provide a fair and just business environment for Chinese enterprises, Li said.

Persons: Li Qiang, Joko Widodo, Li, Liz Lee, Ella Cao, Tom Hogue, Robert Birsel Organizations: 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, ASEAN Summit, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China

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