• Japanese urges ASEAN to work with OCED

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono urged Southeast Asian countries on Thursday to work more closely with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to invest in high-quality infrastructure.

• ASEAN, Russia review progress of cooperation

The 16th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) took place at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on 23 March. It was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Phongsavanh Sisoulath, Director General of ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, and H.E. Mr. Alexander Ivanov, Ambassador of Russia to ASEAN

• New Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community takes office

Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo took office today as the new Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) from 2018 to 2021

• ASEAN, Germany chart out future direction of their partnership

Reaffirming their strong commitment to further strengthen ASEAN and Germany partnership, both sides today adopted a framework for future cooperation

• ASEAN, Australia sign MOU on counter terrorism

Reaffirming their commitment to fight terrorism and violent extremism, ASEAN and Australia today signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Government of Australia on Cooperation to Counter International Terrorism.

• New ASEAN body, the Lead Implementing Body for Sustainable Infrastructure, established to strengthen connectivity and infrastructure

The inaugural meeting of the Lead Implementing Body for the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 Strategic Area on Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI) was held on 14 March at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta

• Singapore calls on ASEAN members to keep pursuing deeper economic integration, liberalization

Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang said on Thursday that all ASEAN Member States must stay the course in pursuing deeper economic integration and liberalization, so that the citizens can enjoy the benefits of their collective community building efforts.

• Australia-ASEAN Summit: Leaders must take a stand against ethnic cleansing of Rohingya

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia must take a strong stand against ongoing crimes against humanity targeting Rohingya in Myanmar as they meet this weekend, Amnesty International said.

• The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Sydney, March 2018: issues and implications

The ten ASEAN heads of government will convene in Sydney at the invitation of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for a Special Summit on 17–18 March 2018

• ASEAN SecGen and Japan’s Foreign Minister emphasise significance of ASEAN-Japan partnership

The Secretary-General underscored Japan as an important partner to ASEAN, and appreciated Japan’s commitment for greater collaboration to advance ASEAN-Japan relations.