International relations

The Ministry of Commerce has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Projects of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund with the Government of China, and another Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of development projects with Mekong Institute.  Keep reading ...

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde’s cautionary words (April 13) on the debt burden likely to be borne by the 70 countries destined to be part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative are to be welcomed. Beijing has proposed major “Silk Road” infrastructure developments linking China ...

The upcoming visit to Vietnam from April 19-20 by Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and tighten the Vietnam-Myanmar comprehensive cooperative partnership. []They have supported each other at sub-regional, regional and international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, ...

How are Southeast Asian countries responding to growing tensions between the two powers? []Other Southeast Asian state — like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and perhaps nominal U.S. ally Thailand — appear to be moving toward China, preferring China’s economic incentives over the benefits of U.S. military “protection.” Keep reading ...

Chief negotiators of India, China and 14 other countries will meet by the end of this month in Singapore for the next round of discussions on the proposed mega free trade deal RCEP. “The meeting will start by the end of this month. This will ...

Thailand and Myanmar would soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would facilitate cross-border transportation of goods and people, U Aung Ye Tun, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told The Myanmar Times. Keep reading ...

The Mekong River Commission met in Siem Reap province last week to discuss alternative energy solutions, large-scale Chinese investment, and governance issues. Keep reading ...

The prime ministers of the four countries in the downstream Mekong River basin agreed this week to boost collaboration for sustainable development, but turned noticeably quiet about the environmental impact from hydropower dam projects that have increased thanks to Chinese help. Keep reading ...

Presented with “frightening” possibilities due to intense damming, the leaders of the Mekong River Commission member countries gave little sign Thursday they had heeded calls to fundamentally rethink water policy for the shared waterway, with the exception of Vietnam. Keep reading ...

The Belt and Road Initiative has injected fresh vitality to Asia’s economic cooperation and helped the continent to reshape its international relations, according to a report released on Sunday at the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 annual conference. The Belt and Road Initiative has provided ...