Day: May 15, 2022

ASEAN and the United States (US) will redouble their collective efforts towards a peaceful solution in Myanmar.

In a joint vision statement after the ASEAN-US Special Summit – the first-ever to be held in Washington, D.C. – it said ASEAN member states and the US remain deeply concerned over the crisis in Myanmar.

It said the leaders reiterated their commitment to peace and stability in the region and continue to call for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and for the release of all political detainees, including foreigners.

“We will redouble our collective efforts towards a peaceful solution in Myanmar that also reflects a continued commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, as outlined in the ASEAN Charter.

“We welcome close coordination between the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar and the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar to ensure synergy in this important endeavour,” it said.

The joint vision statement stated ASEAN and the US would continue to support ASEAN’s efforts to facilitate a peaceful solution in the interest of the people of Myanmar, including through the work of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, in building confidence and trust with full access to all parties concerned, and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, including those who are the most in need, without discrimination.

The statement said ASEAN and the US urged the timely and complete implementation of the 5PCs.

The 5PCs on Myanmar adopted by ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta on April 24 last year are: end violence; hold constructive discussions with stakeholders; ASEAN provides humanitarian aid to Myanmar; the appointment of a special ASEAN ambassador to carry out negotiations; and for the special envoy to be allowed to visit the country.

On Russia-Ukraine crisis, the joint vision statement said ASEAN and the US continue to reaffirm its respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity.

It said the leaders reiterated their call for compliance with the United Nations Charter and international law.

“We underline the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities and creating an enabling environment for peaceful resolution. We support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres)  in the search for a peaceful solution.

“We also call for the facilitation of rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for those in need in Ukraine, and for the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and persons in vulnerable situations,” it said.

 

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

 

The establishment of a working committee between Malaysia and the United States to address the issue of alleged forced labour is an equitable move to resolve palm oil and rubber issues, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

In welcoming the decision by the US via its Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to set up the committee with the Malaysian government, Zuraida said the move was in the right direction to resolve the long outstanding issue that has unfairly plagued local industries, in particular palm oil and rubber.

Zuraida said most of the claims of forced labour made by the non governmental organisations (NGOs) and other interest groups were not verified by the US authorities, which then resulted in Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products being banned.

“This is grossly unfair to our local industry,” she said in a statement Sunday.

On Friday, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan  said the committee, which would focus on exchanging information including formulating policies that could support Malaysia’s initiatives towards combatting forced labour, would meet every three months.

Saravanan also said the US CBP was expected to undertake a working visit to Malaysia at the end of this month and hold a workshop with the country’s industry players.

Zuraida said the government through the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry would continue to ensure that the country’s commodity industry, one of the main contributors to the country’s economic recovery after COVID-19 pandemic, is protected from misleading propaganda from various quarters.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

 

Vietnam will ban the use of all plastic bags from 2030, including those in wet markets, it was reported today.

The country has also set a target of using 100 percent environmentally-friendly bags, at commercial centres and supermarkets by 2025, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, was quoted as reporting.

A survey by the ministry’s Institute of Strategy and Policy on National Resources and Environment showed that, up to 104,000 single-use plastic bags are used at Vietnam’s supermarkets each day, equivalent to 38 million bags a year.

Vietnam consumes about 3.9 million tonnes of plastic per year, while only 1.28 million tonnes of plastic are recycled, according to a report by the World Bank.

Plastics are commonly used in a wide range of industries in the country, including packaging, consumer goods, electronics, automotives, aviation, textiles, and agriculture, it said

 

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK