Latest news with #BuiThanhSon
The Standard
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
Malaysia says China will sign Southeast Asia nuclear weapons free zone treaty when documents are ready
Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan, Laos' Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane join hands for a group photo during ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 10, 2025. (Reuters)
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam proposes three priorities to strengthen Asean's centrality
KUALA LUMPUR: Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has proposed three key priorities to reinforce Asean's central role amid rising regional and global uncertainties at the plenary session of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (July 9). His proposals included driving economic growth to make Asean the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, building a leading digital community and deepening people-to-people connectivity to advance a more inclusive and action-oriented Asean. The plenary, which followed the official opening of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58), focused on implementing decisions made at the 46th Asean Summit and charting the path forward for Asean Community-building efforts. Ministers emphasised the need to sustain Asean's role as a platform for cooperation, dialogue and strategic trust. They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2045 and associated strategies, calling on all Asean sectoral bodies to identify priorities and translate high-level directions into concrete actions. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing intra-regional trade and investment, facilitating trade, expanding connectivity in infrastructure, energy grids, digital networks and diversifying external partnerships. Ministers also stressed the importance of strengthening Asean's resilience to emerging growth drivers and responding to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters and extreme weather events. Sơn reaffirmed the core values that underpin Asean's success, including unity and mutual respect. In today's volatile environment, he noted, Asean's centrality, unity and strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development must continue to serve as guiding principles. Building on that foundation, he put forward three strategic directions: First, Asean must prioritise robust economic growth to achieve its target of becoming the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. This involves deepening intra-regional economic integration and effectively implementing the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, while leveraging existing FTAs with partners and expanding inter-regional linkages, particularly through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Asean should also capitalise on e-commerce to unlock internal trade potential and expand into new markets and supply chains. Second, Asean should accelerate negotiations on a Digital Economy Framework Agreement that meets real-world needs, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. New growth drivers like digital transformation and innovation ecosystems should be embedded into Asean's cooperation frameworks with external partners to attract resources and technical support. These efforts must also be reflected in Asean's own programmes and subregional cooperation initiatives. As Chair of the Asean Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI) Task Force, Việt Nam will coordinate the implementation of these initiatives under the next IAI Work Plan. Third, Asean must deepen its engagement with the people. Beyond high-level declarations, Asean's presence must be felt through concrete and meaningful actions. The region's communication strategy should be enhanced to widely promote Asean's achievements and contributions through real stories of individuals and communities. Vietnam will soon develop a national implementation plan for Asean's strategic 2045 documents to bring Asean closer to its citizens, businesses, and localities. Sơn also reaffirmed Vietnam's support for Timor-Leste's accession to Asean and its readiness to assist the country in fulfilling membership criteria, including participation in legal instruments. He called on Asean to develop a clear roadmap to support Timor-Leste's effective integration and full implementation of member obligations. Earlier, in his opening address to AMM-58, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the need for Asean to remain proactive, strategically autonomous and united in shaping the region's future amid mounting global volatility. He said Asean's true strength lies in its solidarity, cohesion and commitment to overcoming differences through mutual respect, dialogue and consensus. He warned against the weaponisation of economic tools for geopolitical competition and urged Asean to act with clarity and resolve. Asean, he emphasised, must determine its own path with purpose, vision, and ambition. It should promote meaningful integration and stronger coordination across diplomatic and economic pillars to build an inclusive and sustainable economy. Anwar also highlighted key cooperation areas that directly benefit people, including connectivity, food security, digital transformation, education, healthcare and climate resilience. He expressed hope to welcome Timor-Leste as Asean's next official member and called on member states to support its integration not only institutionally but as part of Asean's shared regional vision. - Vietnam News/ANN
Asahi Shimbun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Southeast Asian foreign ministers meet as U.S. tariffs loom
Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attends a plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 9. (AP Photo) KUALA LUMPUR--Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned Wednesday that global trade is being weaponized as Southeast Asia's foreign ministers opened an annual meeting while facing the looming threat of U.S. trade tariffs. The threat of U.S. tariffs has jolted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member bloc that includes some of the world's most trade-dependent economies. Six ASEAN members are among the 14 countries that could see duties on their exports to the U.S. skyrocket on Aug. 1. Launching the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting, Anwar said the world is now witnessing an era where 'power unsettles principle' and 'tools once used to generate growth are now wielded to pressure, isolate and contain.' Without mentioning the U.S. by name, he again urged ASEAN to work together to respond to trade threats. 'Our cohesion must not end at declarations,' he said, calling for members to increase intra-ASEAN trade, invest in regional integration, and reduce strategic dependencies on external powers. 'This is no passing storm,' he said. 'It is the new weather of our time.' Trump first announced tariffs in April but then delayed them for 90 days to allow for deals. On Tuesday, he announced new tariff with rates of between 25%-40% on 14 countries, which will go into effect Aug. 1 unless new deals are struck. He also threatened to increase tariffs if any countries retaliate. Many ASEAN members have launched bilateral talks with the U.S., but officials have said they plan to hold an ASEAN-U.S. summit later this year to seek a common position. So far, only Vietnam has secured a deal, bringing down its tariffs from 46% to 20%. The list threatens 36% tariffs for Thailand and Cambodia, 32% for Indonesia, 25% for Malaysia, and 40% for Laos and war-torn Myanmar. In addition to confronting trade fallout, the bloc faces mounting internal challenges. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar and a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia are also on the agenda. The gathering in Malaysia will be immediately followed by a series of critical meetings with ASEAN's major trade partners, including the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, and the European Union, scheduled for Thursday and Friday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who last week cancelled trips to Japan and South Korea, will arrive Thursday for the talks on his first visit to Asia. Others visiting foreign ministers include China's Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov of Russia. Analysts said these talks will test ASEAN's ability to assert its voice amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The bloc hopes to reinforce its commitment to a rules-based trade order while resisting pressure to align exclusively with any one global power. 'ASEAN must be among those who choose to stand for rules, even when others choose retreat,' Anwar said. Analysts said Rubio's presence signaled renewed U.S. engagement in the region. It will be a reminder to 'the region that Washington remains its most vital economic and security partner,' said Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malay. But he said that U.S. support may now come with clearer expectations. 'Trump's administration, while still offering the strongest military deterrence and market access, expects ASEAN to stop exploiting this security umbrella while cozying up economically to China,' he said.
Times of Oman
27-05-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
HH Sayyid Asa'ad meets Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Vietnam
Kuala Lumpur: HH Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan met in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday with Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. The meeting reviewed the bilateral relations and explored means of boosting cooperation between Oman and Vietnam in various spheres. The two sides also exchanged views on a set of regional and global issues. They touched on the topics listed on the agenda of the two summits. The meeting was attended by members of the delegation accompanying HH Sayyid Asa'ad and some Vietnamese officials.
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
KL gears up as global delegates arrive for Asean and GCC Summits
SEPANG, May 25 — Malaysia is receiving a wave of diplomatic arrivals today as delegates gather in Kuala Lumpur for the upcoming 46th Asean Summit and Related Meetings. Among them was United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, who arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here at 2.16 pm. Also arrived today were Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn at 2.40 pm, followed by Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi at 3 pm. Timor-Leste's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas arrived at 5 pm while Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son arrived at the airport at 5.45 pm. The 46th Asean Summit will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 26 and 27, alongside with the second Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit. The Asean Summit will bring together leaders from member states to deliberate on regional developments and chart the future direction of the regional grouping. This marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing Asean, following its previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. — Bernama
