Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second from left) inspects a hospital providing treatment for COVID-19 patients in Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on June 26 voicedhiღs belief that ASEAN member nations will be able to overcome the 🐠impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the 36th ASEAN Summit held in the form of ateleconference, he affirmed that as a strong community established in more thanfive decades ago, ASEAN can go through this time of hardship to deal with socio-economicimpacts caused by the pandemic, and change the situation for the better. ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that ASEANcountries and dialogue partners have taken actions to mitigate the socio-economicimpact of the pandemic. He spoke highly of the prompt and decisive actions of ASEANmembers and their sound collaboration in COVID-19 response, as well as withtheir ASEAN Plus Three partners. Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed thatthe 36th ASEAN Summit reflects Vietnam’s leadership as Chair of ASEAN despiteobstacles brought by the pandemic. He noted that ASEAN needs a clear and cautious economicrecovery plan in the coming time, which devises scenarios for the gradualopening of borders in the region, intra-bloc trade and the recovery of thepandemic’s hardest-hit areas./.
Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha attended the 36th ASEAN Summit in the form of a teleconference together with leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states and ASEAN Secretary General.
The ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) aims to affirm the close coordination between the governments and parliaments of ASEAN member nations in building a people-centred ASEAN Community, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth via a video conference on June 26 as part of the 36th ASEAN Summit.
The Governments of ASEAN member countries will spare no efforts to help the business community surmount challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic to quickly recover and resume services and production, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on June 26.
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.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second from left) inspects a hospital providing treatment for COVID-19 patients in Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
