Forum on pan-Tonkin gulf economic cooperation opens

Beijing (VNA) – A two-day forum on Pan-Tonkin Gulf economic cooperation opened on July 30 in Beihai, a coastal city in south China ’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The third forum drew about 400 delegates from Brunei , China , Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippine, Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam . The Vietnamese delegation was led by Nguyen Xuan Thang, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Participants will exchange views and hold discussions on three topics: Pan-Tonkin Gulf economic cooperation amid an uncertain world economy; focal points, difficulties and prospects in Pan-Tonkin Gulf sub-regional cooperation, and the opening and development of the Tonkin Gulf Economic Zone and Pan-Tonkin Gulf economic cooperation.

The first and second forums were held in Namning city, China’s Guangxi province, in 2006 and 2007. -

Japanese government resigns for reshuffle

– The Japanese government on August 1 resigned, paving the way for a reshuffle by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

PM Fukuda convened the cabinet for a brief meeting at which all of the cabinet’s ministers handed over letters of resignation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said.

PM Fukuda also named former Foreign Minister Taro Aso as the new secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. –

Thailand to conduct rescue training in Myanmar

– A Thai-based technical institute will conduct disaster-related emergency rescue training courses for Myanmar engineers, aimed at dealing with natural disasters.

The Asian Institute of Technology of Thailand will give the two-year training to members of the Myanmar Engineers Association (MEA) free of charge, according to news reports.

Ways of prompt escape from disaster and flood hazard mapping will be covered by the training. Field trip will be organized deep into villages for interviewing local residents.

Myanmar has been placing emphasis on taking preventive measures against natural disaster, especially after the country was severely hit by a tropical cyclone Nargis early last May, which killed 84,537 people, leaving 53, 836 missing and 19,359 injured.-

Int’l monitors speak highly of Cambodia’s election

– The US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) has praised the organisation of the July 27 general election in Cambodia, local media reported on July 31.

NDI saw that Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC) has performed its task with a high professional career than in the past, NDI Senior Adviser Thomas Andrews, who is also a former member of the US House of Representatives was quoted as saying.

NDI worked together with the Neutral and Impartial Commitee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia in observing 378 polling stations across the country, according to Cambodia’s AKP News Agency.

Previously, on July 28, the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia issued a statement on the poll, saying that it took place in peace, security and order without violence in all 24 constituencies nationwide.

German Minister for the Economy and Technologies Michel Glos said in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen that the current politic situation in Cambodia has been a great development as compared with that in the 1980s, according to an advisor to PM Hun Sen.-

Thailand to sell 2.1 million tonnes of rice

– The Thai government has agreed to sell 2.1 million tonnes of rice in its stocks on a government-to-government basis, local media reported.

Several African and Asian countries have expressed interest in buying Thai rice in quantity, with prices yet to be negotiated, the Thai news agency (TNA) on July 31 quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee as saying.

In 2007, Thailand exported rice worth about 1.2 billion USD to African countries, according to the TNA. –

Malaysia, Brunei to play more sport together

– Malaysia and Brunei have agreed to further enhance cooperation in sports activities, especially those involving young people, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported.

The agreement was reached in a closed-door meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Brunei’s Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, PM Badawi was cited as saying on August 1.

Brunei and Malaysia also agreed that joint participation in sports would allow for more open interactions between the two countries, the PM said.

Additionally, the two sides also discussed matters relating to education.

The crown prince is on a four-day visit to Malaysia starting on August 1.–

Kuwaiti Prime Minister to visit Laos

– Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will pay an official visit to Laos from August 5-6, the Vientiane Times reported on August 1.

The two-day visit is at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, the paper quoted the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying.

Laos and Kuwait signed an agreement on July 14, 2008 to establish diplomatic relations, according to the paper. –