Government
Vietnamese Deputy PM highlights importance of Mekong countries' partnership
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted that co-operation among upper and lower Mekong countries for the sustainable management and use of the Mekong River should be the top priority for the Mekong-Lancang partnership. Speaking at the first Mekong-Lancang Foreign Ministers’ ...
New law to strengthen civil servant management in Laos
All Lao civil servants, including leaders will have new uniform regulations imposed on them if a newly drafted law on public service is promulgated. This is the perspective of Laos’ new proposed civil service management law drafted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for ...
Myanmar President to meet political parties on 15 November
President U Thein Sein has called political parties to a meeting in Yangon on 15 November to discuss the post-election political situation, party sources say. U Nay Min Kyaw, secretary of National Democratic Force (NDF), said that an invitation letter sent to the party stated that ...
Myanmar government rejects key human rights recommendations
Human rights groups at the United Nations and in Myanmar are hopeful the incoming government will radically change the country’s attitude to protecting human rights, after representatives for Naypyidaw rejected a large number of proposed human rights reform made under the Universal Period Review process. The ...
NLD wins absolute majority in parliament
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy has secured an absolute majority in the combined houses of parliament which guarantees her party has the numbers to secure her choice of the next president. Official results posted by the Union Election Commission at noon on ...
Business leaders see brighter future in NLD win
Business leaders have welcomed the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) thumping victory in the 8 November election, saying the opposition is well poised to drive economic growth when it forms the next government in March. Industry insiders say that the change of government is certain to lead ...
NLD leader seeks talks on transition
Myanmar’s president and the Tatmadaw commander-in-chief have congratulated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her party’s election victory and agreed to her request to hold talks following the crushing defeat of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Expressing his intention to cooperate with the opposition National ...
Vietnam plans Hanoi-Vientiane highway project: report
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has started a feasibility study on a 760-kilometer highway to connect Hanoi and Vientiane, local media reported on 11 November. The study conducted by Transport Engineering Design Inc. will help decide whether the route should pass through Nghe An or Ha Tinh, two central ...
Myanmar's election good for ASEAN: Surin
The November 8 election in Myanmar marked a good start for the country as well as Asean, said Surin Pitsuwan, former secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Keep reading ...
Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia to ease visa rules for Chinese
Three of China’s neighbors in Southeast Asia are further easing their visa regimes to attract more Chinese tourists. Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance announced move to lower Chinese visitors’ visa-application fees in a new step to boost its tourism. Starting from 23 November, Chinese tourists’ visa fees ...