President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in is set to arrive in Indonesia on November 8, beginning his tour to three Southeast Asian nations for bilateral summits and regional forums, according to Yonhap News Agency.
President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – President of theRepublic of Korea Moon Jae-in is set to arrive in Indonesia on November 8, beginninghis tour to three Southeast Asian nations for bilateral summits and regionalforums, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The president is due in Jakarta later in theday for a three-day official visit. It will mark his first visit to a foreign countrysince taking office in May.
Moon and his Indonesian counterpart JokoWidodo are scheduled to hold a bilateral summit the following day to discuss boostingthe two countries’ economic and trade relations, as well as their defencecooperation, with Indonesia currently the largest importer of RoK arms in Asia.
Before the summit, Moon plans to attend ajoint business forum where he is expected to announce his New South Policy thatseeks to improve diplomatic and economic ties between his country and SoutheastAsia.
President Moon will then arrive in centralDa Nang city of Vietnam on November 10 for the annual Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week. He plans to meet with his Chinesecounterpart Xi Jinping for the second time on the sidelines of the APECmeeting.
He will head to Manila, the Philippines on the final leg of his trip where hewill join other 15 global leaders in the East Asia Summit.
Thepresident will later attend another regional forum hosted by ASEAN, the ASEANPlus Three summit, involving all ten ASEAN member states and the leaders of theRoK, China and Japan.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held separate meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Philipp Roesler.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a speech at the Vietnam Business Summit which was held in the central city of Da Nang on November 7. Following is the full text of the speech.
President Donald Trump’s participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and his State visit to Vietnam reflects the US’s interest in the partnership with Vietnam in particular and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in general, stated Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has had an article themed “A dynamic, integrated and growing Vietnam in the Asia-Pacific,” on the occasion of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week taking place in central Da Nang city from November 6-11.
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.
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.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
