29th AIPA closes, issuing joint communique

Singapore (VNA) – ASEAN parliamentarians on August 22 issued a joint communique at the end of the 29th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 29) in Singapore on August 22, affirming the great role of ASEAN legislators in promoting regional links for people’s benefits.

The communique stressed AIPA’s contribution to drafting and adopting the ASEAN Charter. The Assembly called on remaining countries, namely Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, to ratify the Charter as early as possible in order to make the Charter effective on the occasion of the 14 th ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held in December.

The communique emphasised that economic integration among ASEAN countries will help promote competativeness to attract investors and bring economic benefit to countries.

The Assembly is determined to raise ASEAN people’s awareness on the grouping’s identity through policies, programmes and activities relating to the ASEAN Community’s politic-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars.

Participants to the Assembly discussed current issues relating to energy and food security, climate change, economic integration in order raise the AIPA’s role in solving regional and international issues.

Delegates from eight AIPA members, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, approved 22 resolutions on political, economic and social-related issues as well as matters on AIPA’s organisational affairs in the spirit of high consensus for cooperation and development.

The Assembly also adopted a resolution to hold the 30th AIPA in Thailand next year.–

Laos, Indonesia boost diplomatic cooperation

– The Institute of Foreign Affairs under the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its counterpart from Indonesia have agreed to further their cooperation in the future.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed in Vientiane on August 21 following a meeting between the two institutes, according to Laos News Agency (KPL).

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged their experiences in the analysis on regional and international aspect and training young diplomats.

A lecture under the theme ” Indonesia’s view for Southeast Asian Nations and skills for diplomat training” was held on this occasion.

The function was attended by 100 people from different ministries, KPL reported. –

ASEAN, gulf countries increase trade ties

– The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-ASEAN Economic Centre (GAEC) was established in Kuala Lumpur on August 21, the New Straits Times reported.

The move aims to further strengthen economic ties between the GCC and ASEAN countries through the facilitation of inter-regional trade and investment activities, it said.

In the first six months of this year, trade between GCC countries and Malaysia totaled 9.5 billion USD while foreign direct investments from the region totaled 3.6 billion USD.

The GAEC provides a useful platform for businessmen in Malaysia and the ASEAN region intending to expand their business operations in the Middle East, particularly in GCC countries.

The centre also creates conditions for businessmen from the Middle East to penetrate the Malaysian and ASEAN markets.–

MILF gunmen killed in southern Philippine clash

– Ten people were killed and seven other injured when gunmen of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ambushed Philippine government troops in the Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, on August 21.

The dead people were MILF fighters, while the injured were five government soldiers and two residents, local military spokesman Colonel Julieto Ando was quoted by news agencies as saying on August 22.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the MILF said that the clash lasted till August 22, according to news reports.

The Philippine government forces have opened an attack to crack down a MILF’s commander, Umbra Kato, who launched a series of attacks on towns and villages in Mindanao two weeks ago. The attacks have killed scores and displaced thousands of people. –

Bombings kill two in southern Thailand

– Two men died and over 30 others were wounded in two bombings on August 21 in the restive southern Thailand.

The first blast, occurred near a police headquarters in Sungai Kolok town, Narathiwat province, caused no fatalities.

The second bomb, which exploded in the same place dozens of minutes later, killed two people and injured 33 others, including the town’s police chief, who was investigating the first blast.

Local authorities said the two bombings showed a new attacking tactics conducted by separatists that aims to cause great fatalities.

Since 2004, violence kills more than 3,400 people in the southern Thailand which is a Muslim-dominated area, according to news agencies. –

ASEAN economic ministers to meet in Singapore

– Singapore will host the 40 th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and Related Meetings from August 25-29, the Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.

At the meetings, ASEAN Ministers will focus on the grouping’s integration issues and relations with Dialogue Partners, CNA cited a statement from Singapore’s Trade and Industry Ministry as saying on August 22.

Consultations with Dialogue Partners will focus on matters relating to the Free Trade Agreements and economic cooperation activities, according to the news network.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. –

Cambodian PM expects peaceful end to border dispute

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian Prime Minister has expressed his hope for a peaceful settlement of the 39-day-long border dispute with Thailand at the areas of the Preah Vihear temple and two other temples, Ta Moan Thom and Ta Moan Touch, in the near future.

In his letter to Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on August 21, PM Hun Sen said that “I have full confidence that the meeting of the Cambodian-Thai Joint Border Commission (JBC) in early October, 2008, followed by the next meeting of the two foreign ministers, will bring about a peaceful settlement to the border issues not only in Preah Vihear Temple area, but also the entire border region between Cambodia and Thailand.”

“I sincerely hope that the second meeting between the head of the Cambodian Contemporary Coordinating Task Force and the head of the Thai Regional Border Committee on Aug. 29, 2008, as agreed during the second foreign ministers’ meeting in Hua Hin province of Thailand on Aug. 18-19, will result in removal of all the remaining troops at the areas around the Preah Vihear Temple and cessation of all military build-up in other border areas,” he added in his letter that was made public on August 22.

PM Hun Sen also expressed his pleasure that the two countries shared views to resolve this issue in a peaceful and amicable manner to maintain their long lasting friendship and good neighborliness.

The Preah Vihear Temple straddles the Cambodian-Thai border atop the Dangrek Mountain. UNESCO has recently listed the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site belonging to Cambodia.-

Thai Foreign Minister visits Myanmar

Bangkok (VNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag left Bangkok on August 23 for a three-day official visit to neighbouring Myanmar and to inspect activities being prepared to celebrate 60-year diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Tej, who was appointed to his post on July 27, will pay a courtesy call on Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein and his counterpart Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win.

FM Tej will also follow-up several projects in which the two countries are cooperating, including Thai government assistance being given to Myanmar after that country was severely hit by Cyclone Nargis on May 2 and 3, construction of a road between Mae Sot in the Thai border district of Tak province to Moh Lam Yai (Moulmein) in Myanmar, energy, drug trafficking and a solution regarding illegal Myanmar workers entering Thailand.

On this occasion, the Thai diplomat will also donate 2.2 million baht (about 64,700 USD) to two hospitals.-