Government
National government
Abe vies with China for influence over ASEAN gateways
The warm welcome afforded Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, here on November 2 underscores Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s eagerness to counter Chinese overtures to a country, like the Philippines, of great geopolitical importance in Southeast Asia. Abe greeted Suu Kyi at the ...
China needs 'lose-win' diplomacy in ASEAN
Scanning the regional landscape on November 3, South-east Asian states ought to be quite optimistic about the state of ASEAN-China relations just as the year closes on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of their dialogue partnership. ASEAN and China have agreed to a series of ...
PM vows zero tolerance of financial misconduct
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the National Assembly this week that the ongoing violations of financial regulations by various state departments must be addressed and those found guilty punished. The premier was responding to questions raised by members of parliament concerning possible solutions to the ...
Public debt near red line: NA deputies
The second session of the National Assembly on November 1 continued with debates on a five year financial plan, targets and orientation for the mobilisation and use of public investment loans as well as public debt management during 2016-2020. Finance Minister Đinh Tiến Dũng presented a ...
PM reveals measures to bolster economic growth
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the National Assembly that the government will employ a number of measures to spur economic growth amid the current economic and financial constraints. The prime minister on October 31 responded to questions raised by Assembly members about stimulus measures and policies the ...
NA members want tougher oversight on chemical use
National Assembly members have proposed that the government impose tougher measures in managing the distribution and use of dangerous chemicals so they can be brought under control. NA members expressed their wish on October 31 when debating the NA’s Standing Committee oversight of social and environmental ...
Philippines says China ships still at shoal, but fishermen unhindered
China has scaled down its presence at a disputed South China Sea shoal but has not interfered with Filipino fishermen, the Philippine president’s security adviser said on October 30, after the administration had said China had withdrawn completely. Hermogenes Esperon said Chinese ships were still present ...
VN, Singapore pledge to beef up ties
Việt Nam and Singapore have agreed to work together to seek new directions for co-operation in order to optimise opportunities and benefits brought about by free trade agreements and the ASEAN Economic Community. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Singaporean Foreign Minister ...
Govt seeks to increase bank deposits to 84 percent of GDP
The government has announced its intention to increase deposits in commercial banks to 84 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2020, up from the 57 percent expected in 2016, in a bid to meet growing development needs. Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, Mr. ...
Deputies uneasy about draft Law on Associations
National Assembly deputies spent the whole day on October 25 trying to iron out their differences over the draft Law on Associations. All agreed that the right to establish associations was one of the fundamental rights of citizens provided by the Constitution. However, some deputies said ...
