Japan views Asean as a potential strategic partner in the crisis-proofing of its economy, whose vulnerabilities such as an over-reliance on Chinese imports and domestic manufacturing were exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic and past natural disasters.

The pandemic has strongly affected all countries in the region, stopping the steady growth trajectory of recent years. However, according to several experts, if the virus should slow down, South East Asia could return to growth as early as the end of 2020. The Japan Centre for Economic Research describes the impact of the coronavirus on the ASEAN region, with a focus on new trends such as the growth of the digital sector.

Twenty young leaders from across ASEAN Member States (AMS) met virtually with ASEAN Leaders at the sidelines of the 36th ASEAN Summit held on 26 June. The ASEAN Youth Interface with ASEAN Leaders 2020 gave youth representatives a platform to speak with ASEAN Heads of States and Governments to advocate important youth issues such as volunteerism, entrepreneurship and skills development for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

BEST Inc., a leading supply chain service provider headquartered in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, announced that it has launched logistics services in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore. The company plans to build 400 express delivery stations and 12 transshipment centers in three years in the three countries.

BANGKOK -- The Thai government has decided to keep the kingdom under a state of coronavirus emergency until July 31 despite having recorded no local transmission for over a month.

Indonesia is pressing ahead with plans to build a new capital as billions of dollars in private sector investment is seen as key to reviving an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic, a senior minister said.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced on Tuesday that seven foreign companies had confirmed plans to relocate production facilities to Indonesia, mostly from China, an encouraging signal for the country’s investment climate amid the pandemic.

Numero di Tribuna Economica sulla Malesia ed intervista al Presidente Letta. Nel suo ultimo numero Tribuna Economica ha pubblicato un rapporto sulla Malesia con l'obiettivo di analizzare una delle economie più vivaci e dinamiche del Sud-Est asiatico. Da segnalare l'intervista al Presidente dell’Associazione Italia-ASEAN, Enrico Letta.

Non si arrestano le grandi opere in Malesia. Il Primo ministro Muhyiddin Yassin ha rassicurato che non si arresteranno i grandi progetti che non richiedono ulteriori finanziamenti dal Governo, come il progetto East Coast Rail Link e la Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail. Non fermare le grandi opere rientra nella strategia del Governo per far ripartire l’economia dopo mesi di stagnazione causa Covid-19.

The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe looks to have done little, at least in Laos, to slow China's grand plans for a high-speed rail line linking its landlocked interior to the bustling ports of Singapore through mainland Southeast Asia.

Such centralized delivery-oriented spaces, known as cloud kitchens, are a growing presence in Southeast Asia, lowering the barriers to entry in the food service industry but posing a threat to traditional restaurants. Ride-hailers like Grab and rival Gojek have jumped into the business to reap additional revenue from rent and delivery fees. This has paid off as the coronavirus pandemic whets consumers' appetite for delivery while sending demand for ride-hailing services plummeting.

South-east Asian leaders said a 1982 UN oceans treaty should be the basis of sovereign rights and entitlements in the South China Sea, in one of their strongest remarks opposing China’s claim to virtually the entire disputed waters on historical grounds.

Vietnam-Malesia: colloquio telefonico tra premier, focus su cooperazione bilaterale e ASEAN. Il Primo Ministro vietnamita Nguyen Xuan Phuc e l'omologo malese Muhyiddin Yassin hanno avuto ieri un colloquio telefonico incentrato su questioni regionali e internazionali di comune interesse nel contesto della pandemia. I due leader hanno convenuto di rafforzare ulteriormente le relazioni bilaterali attraverso scambi commerciali e meccanismi di cooperazione.

The administration of the Philippine capital is planning the purchase of 2,000 three-wheeled vehicles to be used in this new phase of cohabitation with the virus. The vehicles, produced by the Italian Piaggio, will be equipped with dividers to ensure social distance between passengers.