In an era dominated by discussions of great-power competition, strategic rivalries, and shifting geopolitical alignments, the importance of steady and enduring bilateral relationships is often overlooked. Yet some of the most resilient diplomatic partnerships are built not on military alliances or geopolitical headlines, but on decades of mutual respect, trust, and shared aspirations for development. […]
asean
Punjab, ASEAN states agree to bolster cultural cooperation
Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Punjab, Azma Bokhari, met with a high-level delegation from ASEAN countries led by Indonesian Ambassador Chandra Warsi. In honor of the distinguished guests, the Punjab Information and Culture Department hosted a formal dinner reception. Azma Bokhari, along with Secretary Information Punjab Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, warmly welcomed the delegation. […]
Thailand, Cambodia agree truce to end border fighting
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday agreed to halt weeks of intense border clashes, marking an end to the worst fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in years. The violence had involved fighter jet sorties, rocket exchanges and heavy artillery fire along disputed stretches of their shared frontier. Read More: Thailand and Cambodia push for lasting ceasefire The […]
Asean ministers meet to ease Thailand-Cambodia border tensions
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) met on Monday in Malaysia to try and restore a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia following two weeks of intense fighting. The conflict has killed at least 60 people and displaced more than half a million residents along the disputed border. Read More: […]
US, China, and India hold key defence talks at ASEAN summit
KUALA LUMPUR – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday held separate meetings with his counterparts from China and India, kicking off a series of high-level talks at an ASEAN defence summit in Malaysia, as Washington intensifies efforts to strengthen regional security ties. Hegseth said on X that he told China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun […]
China and ASEAN upgrade trade pact amid US tariffs
China and the ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations signed an upgraded free trade agreement on Tuesday. Leaders said the deal will boost trade in the digital, green, and other emerging industries. ASEAN, a group of 11 nations, is China’s largest trading partner, with $771 billion in bilateral trade last year. Chinese Premier Li Qiang […]
Trump co-signs Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire deal in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR – United States President Donald Trump co-signed a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during his first stop in Malaysia on his Asia tour, marking a major diplomatic step toward ending months of deadly border conflict. The deal, signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Trump, and Malaysian […]
East Timor joins ASEAN as 11th member after 14-year wait
East Timor has officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its 11th member, marking a major milestone in the young nation’s diplomatic journey after 14 years of campaigning. The announcement came during a summit in Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined other ASEAN leaders for a signing ceremony and traditional […]
ASEAN to monitor Thai-Cambodia border after bloody clashes
Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to allow ASEAN observers to monitor their shared border after a deadly five-day conflict. The decision was made during a key meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Defence ministers from both countries met at Malaysia’s Armed Forces headquarters to finalize the ceasefire terms. The new peacekeeping step aims to prevent […]
China and ASEAN complete talks on modernized free trade agreement
SHANGHAI – China and ASEAN have agreed to submit an upgraded free trade deal to their leaders for approval this October. The announcement came from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur. Talks for the so-called “3.0 version” of the free trade zone began in late 2022 and were completed […]