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☆ Japan PM speaks to China's Li about radioactive water release
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the leaders talk of the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF) in Jakarta, Indonesia September 6, 2023. Japan started releasing the water from the wrecked plant into the ocean last month, drawing strong criticism from China. "During the chat, I explained Japan's position on the treated water to Premier Li," Kishida said. It was also the first high-level talk between the two countries since the release of the water from the Fukushima plant. The water is treated to remove most radioactive elements except for tritium, a radionuclide difficult to separate from water, and then diluted to internationally accepted levels before being released into the ocean.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Adek Berry, Li Qiang, Kishida, Li, Premier Li, Sakura Murakami, Rocky Swift, Tomasz Janowski, Nick Macfie Organizations: Japan's, ASEAN, Pacific, Rights, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Japan, China, Premier, Tokyo, Beijing

☆ Xi, Putin missing G20 summit not unusual, India's foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, 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/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin skipping this week's G20 summit in New Delhi is not unusual and has nothing to do with India, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told the ANI news agency. Sherpas of the G20 countries are negotiating to build a consensus and arrive at a declaration at the Sept. 9-10 summit in New Delhi, Jaishankar said in the interview, which was aired on Wednesday. Asked if their absence would affect building a consensus and producing a declaration at the end of the summit, Jaishankar said: "We are negotiating right now...the clock did not start ticking yesterday." Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he hopes to discuss digital issues and food security.

Persons: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Jaishankar, Putin, Xi, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: India's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, India, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Indian, Reuters, World Bank, YP, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, DELHI, New Delhi, India, Ukraine

☆ ASEAN welcomes world leaders as China-U.S. rivalry overshadows region
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The United States and its allies have echoed ASEAN's calls for freedom of navigation and overflight and to refrain from building a physical presence in the area. Just before this week's gatherings, China released a map with its "10-dash line" delineating what it considers its waters, that appeared to expand its claims in the South China Sea. The United States has also courted ASEAN countries with varying degrees of success. 'GREAT DANGER'Lina Alexandra, a political analyst at think tank CSIS, said the draft was "very weak on the issues of the South China Sea". President Joko Widodo of ASEAN chair Indonesia warned on Tuesday that members must not become proxies in big-power rivalry.

Persons: Ferdinand " Bongbong, Marcos Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Li Qiang, Joko Widodo, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ASEAN's, Lina Alexandra, Alexandra, Wednesday's, Aung, Suu Kyi, Stanley Widianto, Kate Lamb, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, ASEAN, Wednesday, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.S, White, United, Reuters, CSIS, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Laos, JAKARTA, United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, South China, States, South, Indonesia, ASEAN, Myanmar, Suu, Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

☆ Myanmar won't be allowed to lead Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2026, in blow to generals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

An official ASEAN statement issued Tuesday night confirmed the decision to hand the chair to the Philippines in 2026 and affirmed the group's commitment to a five-point plan for restoring peace and stability in Myanmar. The ASEAN leaders' statement on Myanmar stressed the desire to work with the generals to end the country's crisis, especially in the context of the five-point plan which Myanmar accepted in 2021 but has largely failed to implement. "All of us are aware of the magnitude of the world's challenges today, where the main key to facing them is the unity and centrality of ASEAN," Widodo told fellow leaders. "ASEAN leaders must ensure that this ship is able to keep going, able to keep sailing," Widodo said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said before flying to Jakarta that he plans to offer assurances of the safety of the ongoing release into the sea of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Joko Widodo, Sonexay Siphandone, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Hun Manet, Anwar Ibrahim, Xanana Gusmao, Adi Weda, Aung, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Retno Marsudi, —, Marsudi, bloc's, Widodo, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Li Qiang, Sergey Lavrov, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Cambodia's, Malaysia's, East Timor's, ASEAN Summit, Afp, Getty, United, Aung San Suu, ASEAN, Indonesia, Associated Press, European Union, Myanmar Armed Forces, Foreign Ministry, ASEAN Chair, Indonesian, Assistance Association for Political, U.S ., U.S, Russian, Japanese Locations: Laos, East, Jakarta, Myanmar, United States, Aung San, Philippines, Philippine, ASEAN, Naypyidaw, South China, U.S, China

☆ 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

☆ China warns against 'new Cold War' at ASEAN summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] China's Premier Li Qiang (L) attends the 26th ASEAN-China Summit during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 6, 2023. In remarks at the start of her meeting with ASEAN leaders, Harris said the United States was committed to the region. "The United States has an enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and more broadly to the Indo-Pacific," she said. Just before this week's gatherings, China released a map with a "10-dash line" showing what appeared to be an expansion of the area it considers its territory in the South China Sea. "The Philippines firmly rejects misleading narratives that frame the disputes in the South China Sea solely through the lens of strategic competition between two powerful countries," Marcos said.

Persons: Li Qiang, Yasuyoshi, Li, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Xi, Harris, ASEAN's, Retno Marsudi, Ferdinand Marcos, Marcos, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, Stanley Widianto, Kate Lamb, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: China, ASEAN Summit, REUTERS Acquire, China Sea, Asia ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, U.S, White, Indonesian, United, South, North, New York Times, Thomson Locations: ASEAN, Jakarta, Indonesia, Asia, JAKARTA, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, South China, United States, Southeast Asia, Myanmar, States, South, Philippine, Philippines, North Korea, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ ASEAN is ‘at a loss for ideas’ on how to address Myanmar crisis, says Indonesia's ex-foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Myanmar migrant workers hold a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during the march to mark International Labor Day in Bangkok, calling for the workers rights and protesting against the Myanmar military government on May 1, 2023. "I get the sense that ASEAN is at a loss for ideas … one can speak with eloquence about one individual member state's wish to happen in Myanmar. "At the moment, I'm reminded more about the divisions rather than the unity … this is not only a litmus test for ASEAN, but in my view is an existential threat to ASEAN," Natalegawa added. Myanmar's military administration, however, has not implemented the peace plan — despite agreeing to it two months after the democratic government was overthrown by the coup. "Some ASEAN member states in dispute feel that they are not being provided a common ASEAN home, so as if they are left on their own devices to deal with this issue," said Natalegawa.

Persons: Aung, Suu Kyi, Marty Natalegawa, CNBC's JP Ong, Marty Natalegawa Indonesia's, Natalegawa, Min Aung Organizations: International Labor, Myanmar, Getty, ASEAN, CNBC, 43rd Association of Southeast, Nations, Suu, Reuters Locations: Myanmar, Suu, Bangkok, Indonesian, Jakarta, South China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

☆ Vice President Harris will face doubts and dysfunction at the Southeast Asian nations summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It's Harris' third trip to Southeast Asia and fourth to Asia overall, and she's touched down in more countries there than any other continent. This latest journey is another opportunity for Harris to burnish her foreign policy credentials as she prepares for a bruising campaign year. Her office has not yet detailed her schedule, but she's expected to attend summit events and hold individual talks with some foreign leaders. U.S. officials and analysts believe Beijing's aggressive approach to the region has created an opening for Washington to forge stronger partnerships. Stilwell served as the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under President Donald Trump.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Loy, Kent Nishimura, she'll, Joe Biden's, It's Harris, she's, Harris, She's, Biden, John Kirby, he's, Marty Natalegawa, Natalegawa, Kirby, Phil Gordon, there's, Gordon, Ian Chong, It's, Gregory B, Poling, David Stilwell, Stilwell, Donald Trump Organizations: Cabinet, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.S ., ASEAN, Loy Henderson International Conference, U.S . Department of State, Los Angeles Times, Getty, Democratic, Republican, White House, of Southeast Asian Nations, Washington, National University of Singapore, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Bureau, East, Pacific Affairs Locations: U.S, Washington , DC, Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Asia, Washington, India, Vietnam, Myanmar, South China, United States, China, Philippines, Cambodia, South, Beijing, People's Republic of China, East Asian

☆ ASEAN's diversity on Myanmar shouldn't divide the bloc, says ex-Indonesian minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailASEAN's diversity on Myanmar shouldn't divide the bloc, says ex-Indonesian ministerIndonesia’s former foreign minister says the situation with Myanmar's civil strife is not only a "litmus test" but also an "existential threat" to ASEAN's unity. Marty Natalegawa speaks to CNBC's JP Ong on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Jakarta.

Persons: Marty Natalegawa, CNBC's JP Ong Organizations: Association of Southeast, Nations Locations: Myanmar, Jakarta

☆ Hun Sen's son aims to make Cambodia high-income country by 2050
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet attends an event to meet with garment workers on his first public appearance since taking office, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 29, 2023. The 45-year-old last month took over power from his father Hun Sen after a lopsided general election that all opposition parties were barred from contesting. In a country once riven by decades of war, Cambodia has now evolved to a lower-middle income nation with economic growth rates of 7%, he said. Cambodia's parliament approved Hun Manet as prime minister in August. Hun Sen, one of the world's longest ruling leaders, has said he expects his son to continue his leadership style and will himself remain in politics.

Persons: Hun Manet, Cindy Liu, Monday, Hun Sen, Kate Lamb, Kanupriya Kapoor, Nick Macfie Organizations: Cambodia’s, REUTERS, Rights, Cambodian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Rights JAKARTA, Cambodia's

☆ Morning Bid: Try to top that one, Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Staff lower Chinese national flag in front of screens showing the index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Stephen Culp, financial markets journalist. Asian markets have a tough act to follow on Monday - their own. "Clearly, we've seen a significant slowdown in the Chinese economy the last couple of months," said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group in Omaha. On Thursday, Japan is due to release revised second-quarter GDP data and CPI and PPI reports from China are on deck for Friday.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Stephen Culp, Ryan Detrick, Saola, Li Qiang, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Carson Group, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, PMI, CPI, PPI, South Korea CPI, Australia Judo Bank, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Asia, Beijing, Omaha, Guangdong, Macau, Taiwan, India, Japan

☆ China's Premier Li Qiang will attend ASEAN summit - foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a meeting with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 1 (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Qiang will attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) being held Sept. 5-8, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. While at the summit, Li will attend several meetings, including the East Asia Summit and a key meeting that includes Japan and South Korea. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Li Qiang, John Kerry, Florence Lo, Li, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: U.S, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Japan, South Korea

☆ China says drop in trade with the U.S. is 'a direct consequence of U.S. moves'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Jason Lee | ReutersBEIJING — China's ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, has blamed U.S. tariffs and export controls for a drop in trade between the two countries. "This is a direct consequence of U.S. moves to levy Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, abuse unilateral sanctions and further tighten up export controls," he said. China's trade partnersThe U.S. is China's largest trading partner on a single country basis. Following her meetings with Chinese government officials, the U.S. and China agreed to establish regular communication channels on commerce, export controls and protecting trade secrets. Xie claimed that average U.S. tariffs on Chinese products were 19%, while the Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods averaged 7.3%.

Persons: Jason Lee, Xie Feng, Xie, Gina Raimondo's, Raimondo, Trump, Joe Biden, Janet Yellen Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING —, Forbes, U.S, China Business Forum, European Union and Association of Southeast, . Commerce Secretary, . Commerce, The Locations: Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, South China, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, China, New York, U.S . China, United States, Nations, France, Japan, The U.S

☆ IMF managing director to meet leaders in China, go to Indonesia, India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva attends in a round table to discuss global economy during the New Global Financial Pact Summit at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, France June 22, 2023. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 29 (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will visit China from Wednesday to meet with top leaders, before travelling to Indonesia and India for ASEAN and Group of 20 summits, an IMF spokesperson said on Tuesday. "During Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 the Managing Director will be visiting China to engage in bilateral discussions with China's senior leadership team," they said. Last month, the IMF raised its 2023 global growth estimates slightly given resilient economic activity in the first quarter, but warned that persistent challenges were curtailing the medium-term outlook. Georgieva will be in Jakarta from Sept. 4 to Sept. 7 and New Delhi from Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, the spokesperson added.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, Ludovic Marin, China's, Georgieva, Joe Cash, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: International Monetary Fund, New Global Financial, Palais, Rights, Monetary Fund, China, ASEAN, Group, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Fund, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Rights BEIJING, Indonesia, India, China, Jakarta, New Delhi

☆ Vietnam joins Southeast Asian effort on cross-border payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People go past the State Bank building, near the offices of Vietcombank and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, in central Hanoi, Vietnam November 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kham Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Vietnam's central bank signed an agreement on Friday to be part of an initiative by five other Southeast Asian countries to establish a cross-border payments mechanisms between them. Vietnam will join Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore in working to connect each of their payment systems, including using the QR (quick response) code system for retail transactions. The agreement was made at a meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) finance ministers and central bank governors in Jakarta. Furthermore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to later facilitate cross-border transactions for financial assets like equities and government bonds in local currencies.

Persons: Perry Warjiyo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Martin Petty Organizations: Bank, Bank for Investment, Development, REUTERS, Rights, QR, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Bank Indonesia, Thomson Locations: Vietcombank, Vietnam, Hanoi, Rights JAKARTA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Jakarta

JAKARTA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Indonesia's talks with international partners on setting up a $20 billion fund for the country's transition from coal to cleaner energy have taken longer than anticipated and are complicated by rising borrowing costs, its finance minister said on Thursday. It was based on a similar $8.5 billion initiative in 2021 to help South Africa more quickly decarbonise its power sector. Another challenge is it will take time to hold public consultations with communities that could be affected by a project, such as the construction of a renewable power plant, the minister said. Indonesia has been pushing for coal power plant retirement financing to be seen as "acceptable" among global lenders and brought this up at a meeting of G20 finance ministers in July. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has included coal power plant retirement in its green taxonomy - a framework defining what investment is considered environmentally friendly.

Persons: Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Sri Mulyani, Gayatri Suroyo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Susan Fenton Organizations: Reuters, International Partners, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, United States, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Jakarta

☆ Biden to attend G20 summit in India, VP Harris goes to ASEAN
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a community event at the Lahaina Civic Center, in the fire-ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will visit India from Sept. 7-10 for a summit of the Group of 20 nations while Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Jakarta Sept. 4-7 to attend summits of Southeast Asian leaders, the White House said on Tuesday. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced the trips as the BRICS group of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - held a summit in Johannesburg. Reuters reported exclusively on Aug. 9 that Biden was unlikely to attend summits of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, citing several diplomats saying it would be a significant disappointment if Biden did not go. Reporting by Susan Heavey and Arshad Mohammed, writing by David Ljunggren and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Biden, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, David Ljunggren, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Lahaina Civic Center, REUTERS, White House, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Camp David, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, India, Jakarta, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Johannesburg, United States, Asia, Pacific, Indo Pacific, South Korea, Japan, Camp

Sources said Biden's schedule for Asia is not official until it has been announced and could change. One senior diplomat referred to Indonesia having scheduled the ASEAN summits, which are normally held in November, for September, specifically to make is possible for Biden to attend and then go on to the G20. Sources said Biden was expected to send Vice President Kamala Harris in his place. Policy analysts said another no-show by Biden, who attended ASEAN meetings in Cambodia in November, would call that characterization into question. "Southeast Asia has been impressed that Washington under Biden has stepped up engagement with the region," Hiebert said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst WASHINGTON, Biden, we'll, Kamala Harris, Harris, Jonathan, Murray Hiebert, Hiebert, Ted Osius, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis, Michael Martina, Stanley Widianto, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, White, White House, Biden, U.S ., Southeast, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, ASEAN Business Council, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: Tusayan , Arizona, U.S, JAKARTA, Jakarta, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Washington, Asia, American, Papua New Guinea, Australia, ASEAN, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, East Asia

☆ Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A new regional cross-border payment system recently implemented by Southeast Asian nations could deepen financial integration among participants, bringing the ASEAN bloc closer to its goal of economic cohesion. A unified cross-border digital payment system will "foster a sense of regionalism and ASEAN-centrality in managing international affairs," he added. How it worksBy connecting QR code payment systems, funds can be sent from one digital wallet to another. For instance, Malaysian tourists in Singapore can make a payment with Malaysian ringgit funds in their Malaysian digital wallet when making a transaction. Or, a Malaysian worker in Singapore can send Singapore dollar funds in a Singaporean digital wallet to a recipient's wallet in Malaysia.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Nico Han Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Analysts, U.S, ., Southeast, Risk Intelligence, Malaysian, Singapore, Bank of International Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, The Philippines, Southeast Asia, Malaysian, Switzerland

☆ Xi Jinping’s foreign minister ousted after month-long unexplained absence from public view
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s foreign minister Qin Gang was dramatically ousted on Tuesday after a prolonged absence from public view and replaced by his predecessor in a surprising and highly unusual shake-up of the country’s foreign policy leadership. Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, had only been appointed foreign minister in December after serving as China’s ambassador to Washington. Wang, who was foreign minister from 2013 to 2022, now serves as director of the foreign affairs arm of the ruling Communist Party, a position which makes him China’s top diplomat. The appointment of a foreign minister through a vote during a China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee meeting is a deviation from past precedents. Qin’s disappearance from China’s foreign affairs schedule has not been fully explained by the ministry, which briefly cited “health reasons” when he missed a diplomatic gathering earlier this month.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Wang, Andrey Rudenko, Wagner, Xi, ”, Deng Yuwen, Deng, they’ve Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Russian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Xi, CNN, Senior Locations: Hong Kong, Washington, China, Beijing, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, South Africa, Johannesburg

☆ Top Chinese diplomat proposes talks with Japan, South Korea, Kyodo reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 23 (Reuters) - Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi proposed high-level talks between China, Japan and South Korea in a meeting with the Japanese foreign minister in Indonesia this month, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday. U.S. allies Japan and South Korea are wary of China's increasing military assertiveness and of growing tensions between China and the U.S. over a range of issues including trade and self-ruled Taiwan. Wang and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi met on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Indonesia on July 14. The issue of the water could be a sticking point preventing an early meeting of leaders of the three countries, Kyodo said. Japan conveyed Wang's proposal for the talks to South Korea, Kyodo said.

Persons: Wang Yi, Wang, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Kyodo, Satoshi Sugiyama, Ryan Woo, Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel Organizations: Kyodo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, U.S, Taiwan, Tokyo, Japanese

☆ Xi Jinping's foreign minister vanished from public view. His prolonged absence is driving intense speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public for three weeks, an unusually long absence during a busy period of diplomatic activity in Beijing, sparking intense speculation in a country known for its political opaqueness. Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was promoted to foreign minister in December, after a brief stint as ambassador to the United States. As foreign minister, Qin has delivered searing rebukes of Washington after relations plunged to a new low in the aftermath of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US. The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings. Senior Chinese officials have disappeared from public view in the past, only to be revealed months later by the ruling Communist Party’s disciplinary watchdog that they’ve been detained for investigations.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Andrey Rudenko, Wagner, “, ”, Deng Yuwen, Janet Yellen, John Kerry . Qin, Josep Borrell, Wang Yi, Deng, they’ve, Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — China’s, Russian, Communist Party, Foreign Ministry, European Union, EU, ” Reuters, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Senior, Xi Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Washington, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Russia, China, Indonesia

[1/7] Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn during the Courtesy Call at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/PoolJAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of two dozen countries meet in Indonesia on Friday with U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine and North Korean missiles set to dominate roundtable talks in Southeast Asia's annual security gathering. In opening remarks to foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chairman Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the gathering aimed to seek solutions rather than exacerbate regional and global problems. LAVROV: WESTERN 'DOMINATION'The 10-member ASEAN hosts an East Asia Summit on Friday morning before holding a separate meeting with Blinken. China's Wang also met with Lavrov, and said the two sides would "strengthen strategic communication and coordination".

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prak Sokhonn, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Nancy Pelosi, Matthew Miller, Wang, Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, China's Wang, Lavrov, Myanmar's, Martin Petty, Michael Perry Organizations: Cambodia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, REUTERS, U.S, North Korean, Friday's ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN, State Department, ARF, enraging, Washington, Department, U.S . Navy, East Asia Summit, United Nations Security Council, Russian, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, China, Ukraine, North, United States, Russia, Taiwan, enraging Beijing, LAVROV, Australia, Japan, Britain, South Korea, Myanmar

☆ Japan calls on China to approach Fukushima water release in 'scientific manner'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 14 (Reuters) - Japan called on China to approach the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in a scientific manner at a meeting held between Japan Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi on Friday. China has criticised Japan's plan to release over one million tonnes of water from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant starting this summer. Hayashi said that Japan was ready to communicate with China about the water discharge from a scientific perspective, according to the statement. The treated water will be diluted to well below internationally approved levels of tritium before being released into the Pacific. Hayashi also defended the plan at an ASEAN meeting on Thursday and claimed China was making "claims not rooted in scientific evidence", according to Japan's foreign ministry.

Persons: Yoshimasa Hayashi, Wang Yi, Hayashi, Wang, Sakura Murakami, Himani Sarkar, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan Foreign, ichi, Plant, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, China, Indonesia, Russia

☆ South Korea asks China to play 'constructive role' against North's threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It is a common interest of Seoul and Beijing for North Korea to stop provocations and return to dialogue, his office said. Relations between South Korea and China have also worsened since China's ambassador last month warned South Korea against making a wrong bet when it comes to Sino-U.S. rivalry. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had already angered China in April by saying the Taiwan issue was not merely an issue between China and democratically governed Taiwan, but a "global" issue similar to North Korea. "It is hoped that the South Korean side will abide by the one-China principle and handle it prudently and properly." China is willing to work with South Korea on rebuilding mutual trust and pushing their strategic partnership back to a healthy track, Wang said.

Persons: Jin, Wang Yi, Yoon Suk Yeol, Wang, Soo, hyang Choi, Ryan Woo, Christina Fincher, Devika Syamnath, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Korea's Foreign, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations Security Council, South, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, China, Pyongyang, Jakarta, Seoul, Beijing, North Korea, Russia, Washington, Moscow, emboldening North Korea, South Korea, U.S, Taiwan

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