ASEAN launches guidelines on social protection in response to COVID-19 (Photo: //asean.org/)
Hanoi (VNA) – The ASEAN Secretariat has conveneda high-level roundtable to discuss accelerated actions in addressing theCOVID-19 pandemic.
The event was held during the official launch of the ASEAN Guidelines onDisaster Responsive Social Protection to Increase Resilience, acollaborative effort among the three sectors of disastermanagement, health and social welfare development with the support fromthe UN, the European Union (EU), the Asian Development Bank, and the Canadiangovernment.
Developed in 2017-2019, the document provides aframework, guiding principles and key considerations that are critical forsocial protection programmes to deliver on resilience outcomes.
In his opening speech, DeputySecretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoakstressed that the development and implementation of the Guidelines willaccelerate coherent actions across sectors.
Hernando Caraig, Assistant Secretary of Civil Defense Office of the Philippines– the country undertakes the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on DisasterManagement (ACDM), said the Guidelineswill allow more adaptive and inclusive social protection systems to anticipateand meet the needs of vulnerable groups, and mitigate the impact of potentialcrises.
For his part, Deputy Head of the EU Mission to ASEAN Lukas Gajdo praised ASEAN membernations for their significant progress in building crucial social protectionmechanisms to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He stated that the document is a vivid example of how ASEAN sectors have beencoordinating effectively and efficiently to reinforce each other’s comparativeadvantage to reach those who are most vulnerable.
Protecting the most vulnerable groups requires social protection to go beyondpoverty reduction objectives, and the Guidelines will help reach this goal, hestressed./.
An ASEAN 2020 startups forum focusing on new opportunities in the digital age was jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in Hanoi on October 16.
ASEAN and Switzerland on October 16 held the 5th meeting of the ASEAN-Switzerland Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (AS-JSCC), during which the two sides emphasised their commitment to strengthening dialogue partnership in many fields.
ASEAN member states' government officials, dialogue partners and other external partners attended a regional workshop on “Development of ASEAN Database on Trade Routes and Framework for Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency.”
Head of the Vietnamese mission to ASEAN Ambassador Tran Duc Binh on October 19 attended the 7th meeting of ASEAN-Korea Joint Cooperation Committee (AKJCC), which discussed measures to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the time to come.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
ASEAN launches guidelines on social protection in response to COVID-19 (Photo: //asean.org/) 
