China aims to scale up infrastructure construction in uniquely strategic Laos to accelerate trade and investment throughout Southeast Asia as Chinese businesses scout for space to grow offshore, analysts said. Laos, relatively undeveloped and small at just 7.4 million people, matters to Beijing because it shares borders not only with China, but also with the … Read more
VIENTIANE: Singaporeans need to brace themselves and be mentally prepared that things may go wrong in this “turbulent and difficult phase of development worldwide” amid a “new Cold War”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (Oct 12). Speaking to reporters on the final day of his visit to Vientiane, Laos, Mr Wong said that world … Read more
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasized that the Indo-Pacific region should pursue a development-based approach rather than one pivoted on expansionism. Modi said this in his address at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Laos amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial control in the South China Sea. “The … Read more
“Unfortunately, there has been no political progress and in fact the fighting in Myanmar has worsened,” said Mr Wong. Noting that the conflict is really a domestic situation, he said: “We have to be realistic about what ASEAN can do, and at the same time, patient and steadfast in pursuing efforts towards peaceful resolution.” He … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan has Malaysia’s full support in its bid to become a full dialogue partner with Asean, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said Malaysia is in a position to open up on Pakistan’s desire to become a dialogue partner. “Malaysia is supportive because our position is to engage to open up,” … Read more
JAKARTA: Diplomatic talks on Myanmar’s civil war will be held in Jakarta ahead of a regional summit convening next week, a senior diplomat in Indonesia told AFP on Thursday (Oct 3). The talks on Friday and Saturday will involve representatives from “Indonesia, ASEAN, the European Union and the United Nations” and members of anti-junta groups, said … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: The 15-year investment plan by US-based firm Amazon Web Services (AWS) proves Malaysia is fast becoming the premier regional destination for digital investments, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Expressing his confidence over the RM29.2bil AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region project, the Prime Minister said he hoped the firm would shorten its development period … Read more
New Delhi: TVS Motor Company plans to expand the sales of its electric vehicles to both developing and developed markets, betting big on India’s potential to emerge as a major export hub for electric two-wheelers, according to Director and CEO KN Radhakrishnan. The company will leverage on its plant in Indonesia to cater to other … Read more
A CHOICE FOR THE FUTURE The decision to join BRICS seems a choice for the future. A PwC forecast expects China to be the world’s largest economy in 2050, with India overtaking the US to take the second spot. Indonesia, Brazil and Russia will rise to occupy the fourth, fifth and sixth places. In the decades to … Read more
Illustration: Henry Wong China’s coastguard has found itself embroiled in a series of intense confrontations in three major hotspots – with tensions simultaneously coming to a head in a two-week period in late June. In one of the most dramatic incidents, the Philippines accused China of acting like “pirates” and carrying out “aggressive and illegal” … Read more
