Reimagining asia from asia pacific to indo pacific

The panoramic landscape of security in the world and Asia-Pacific reveals to us that peace, cooperation and development remain the mainstream and of common interest of various countries, said General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense at 18th Shangri-la Dialogue's plenary session of preventing conflict in contested domains in Singapore on June 2. General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense of Viet Nam addresses the 18th Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on June 2, 2019. Lich, however, pointed out that we are also faced with security challenges and complexities, including strategic competition, especially the strategic rivalry among major power. The strategic interest contest has become “more and more intensive” and competition is now unraveling with “more complexity and at a higher level,” globally and regionally alike, he added. Causes to such a situation mainly root in swift changes in the dynamic and balance of power, differences … [Read more...] about Defense Minister: Strategic interest contest in Asia-Pacific becomes more extensive

Economic growth across Southeast Asia will slow to 4.5 per cent in 2019 and remain unchanged in 2020, amidst high risks of a re-escalation in trade tensions. Regional growth has slowed since 2018 and remained sluggish in the third quarter of 2019, with GDP growth across the Southeast Asia (SEA) region rising only 4.5 per cent on-year from 4.4 per cent in the second quarter. The US-China trade conflict has been a key driver for this slowdown in growth, with trade uncertainty remaining a key drag on manufacturing, exports, and investment. Export-oriented economies have been the most impacted by the ongoing trade tensions, with Singapore only narrowly avoiding a technical recession in this year’s third quarter. Regional growth has slowed since 2018 and remained sluggish in the third quarter of 2019, with GDP growth across the SEA region rising only 4.5 per cent on-year from 4.4 per cent in the second quarter. Sian Fenner, ICAEW Economic Advisor and Oxford Economics Lead Asia … [Read more...] about Southeast Asia’s GDP growth to remain at 4.5 percent in 2020

Chairman of the Expert Council of the Eurasian Foundation Grigory Trofimchuk (R) (Photo: VNA)    Moscow (VNA) – Russian experts and scholars have expressed their optimism about the prospects of Vietnam – Russia bilateral ties, on the occasion of the ongoing Russia visit by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Under the article “Russia and Vietnam together celebrate memorable events” published by the “Independence” newspaper on December 8, Vietnamese studies expert Evgheni Kobelev from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Far Eastern Studies highlighted that Vietnam is the first country in Southeast Asia to establish strategic partnership with Russia and the Decree dated May 7, 2012 by Russian President Vladimir Putin takes Vietnam as one of the three most important partners of Russia in Asia, along with China and India. Vietnam and Russia also set the target of raising the number of Russian … [Read more...] about Russian scholars optimistic about Vietnam – Russia ties

The act came as it seeks to temper a global backlash led by celebrities such as George Clooney and Elton John. The small Southeast Asian country sparked an outcry when it rolled out its interpretation of Islamic laws, or sharia, on April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with death, including by stoning. Brunei has consistently defended its right to implement the laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then. However, in a rare response to criticism aimed at the oil-rich state, the sultan said the death penalty would not be imposed in the implementation of the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO). Some crimes already command the death penalty in Brunei, including premeditated murder and drug trafficking, but no executions have been carried out since 1957. "I am aware that there are many questions and misperceptions with regard to the implementation of the SPCO. However, we believe that once these have been cleared, the merit of … [Read more...] about Brunei says it won’t enforce gay death penalty after backlash

The contest result was announced Monday at the annual congress of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA), held in Kuala Lumpur last month. Finalists were Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Taiwan. At the event, the Endoscopy Training Center of HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital was recognized as a "Center for Excellence." Founded in 1990 by a small group of experts in the field, the ELSA Annual Congress attracts more than 1,200 participants every year. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bac, Director of HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, said that receiving the certification is a powerful motivation for the hospital's teachers and clinicians to offer more high quality human resources training. Doctors of HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital perform a laparoscopic surgery. Photo courtesy of N.P. The Training Center of Endoscopic Surgery at the HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital was established in 2003 and is the first laparoscopic … [Read more...] about Vietnam best at endoscopic surgery, Asian congress finds