ASEAN reaffirms commitment to advancing green energy agenda
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
Workers on duty at the Pleiku 2's 500kV substation in Gia Lai province, Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), held from June 16–18, marked a significant milestone as m🌼ember states reached consensus on key strategic agendas to deepen regional energy cooperation.
Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, Secretary General of Malaysia's Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), announced that the meeting finalised several important documents, notably the enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) for 2026–2030. The enhanced APG MoU will serve as a blueprint for cross-border electricity grid projects and is expected to be signed at the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Kuala Lumpur this October.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
Additional discussions covered the ASEAN Renewable Energy Long-term Roadmap, the ASEAN Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) framework, and implementation frameworks for nuclear power plants (NPPs).
Speaking on Malaysia’s role in the region’s energy transition, Mad Zaidi highlighted the country’s modern infrastructure, favourable investment environment, and supportive policies as key advantages that position Malaysia to lead ASEAN’s clean energy transition and become the region’s premier hub for green energy.
The meeting, hosted by PETRA, welcomed around 250 participants, including senior energy officials from the 10 ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste as an observer, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Centre for Energy, and several ASEAN dialogue partners./.
Outbound shipments to the ASEAN region came to 47.88 billion USD in the January-May period, up 4.3% from the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz described the plan as a "blueprint for regional economic transformation" that will drive sustainable growth and deeper integration.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.