Latest Association of Southeast Asian Nations News
Bangladesh's interim leader seeks Malaysia's support for repatriation of Rohingya refugees
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, on Friday sought Malaysia's help in engaging a regional Southeast Asia bloc on raising the issue of repatriating Rohingya refugees home to Myanmar. Malaysia takes over the chair of the Association...
East Timor looks to the pope's visit as a reward after 20 years of fragile stability
DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor is in a festive mood as it prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis on his first trip to the deeply Catholic country, hard on the heels of the 25th anniversary of the referendum on independence from Indonesia. Francis is due to arrive Monday in...
Survey shows disaster-prone Southeast Asia is also best prepared, suggesting lessons can be learned
BANGKOK (AP) — Southeast Asia is among the regions most prone to natural disasters, but a new analysis released Thursday shows its people also feel the best equipped to deal with them. It seems logical that the countries in and around the Pacific Ring of Fire, vulnerable to...
Southeast Asia top diplomats condemn Myanmar violence, urge peaceful means to settle sea disputes
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Southeast Asian top diplomats on Saturday condemned violence in Myanmar's ongoing civil war and urged for “practical” means to defuse rising tensions in the South China Sea during the last of the three-day regional talks with allies including the U.S., Russia and China....
Blinken to celebrate Biden legacy, reassure allies in Asia after president drops out of 2024 race
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make the case for the Biden administration’s expanded commitment to Asia and the Indo-Pacific region more broadly as he visits Laos, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia this week and next. The trip comes as...
Southeast Asian diplomats meet with China as friction mounts over Beijing's sweeping maritime claims
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Top diplomats from Southeast Asia met Friday in Laos with China’s foreign minister for talks that come as friction escalates over Beijing’s growing effort to press its sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea. Several members of the Association of...
India and China agree to work urgently to achieve the withdrawal of troops on their disputed border
NEW DELHI (AP) — India and China have agreed to work urgently to achieve the withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops stationed along their disputed border in a long-running standoff, India's government said. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese...
Myanmar violence, South China Sea tensions are top issues as Southeast Asian diplomats meet in Laos
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Southeast Asian foreign ministers and top diplomats from key partners including the United States and China are gathering in the Laotian capital on Thursday for the start of three days of talks expected to focus on the increasingly violent civil war in Myanmar, tensions in...
China’s exports grow 8.6% in June, beating forecasts despite trade tensions
HONG KONG (AP) — China’s exports beat forecasts in June, customs data showed Friday, while imports grew less than expected. Exports grew 8.6% from the same time last year to hit $307.8 billion, according to data released by Chinese customs, beating estimates of about 7.4% to 8%...