Vietnam prepares to be 4th country to ratify the CPTPP – two more countries to go before implementation of the trade agreement can begin.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Sino-Japan rivalry intensifies in Asia’s growth region
While China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been in the news for a while, Japan is slowly funding the building of supplementary trade corridors in the Mekong region.
Japan and Mekong countries to boost economic cooperation
But what Mekong countries want seems to be cooperation, not confrontation or competition, between Tokyo and Beijing.
Eco-tourism promises both potentials and challenges for Vietnam’s Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu
Experts and local officials warn that an increase in deforestation and environmental pollution due to a boom in industrial zones along the rivers are hindering the appeal.
Taking the HIV/AIDS blood test is key, but not widely used in Vietnam
Nationally, HIV prevalence among men and women is 78% and 22% respectively. Sexually transmitted infections make up approximately 65.4%, mostly concentrated in the aged groups from 15-49 years.
Laos ceases search operations of people still missing after July dam collapse
The search can resume if there is evidence indicating that there could be missing persons somewhere.
China agrees to continue Kyaukpyu project, key compoent of SEZ
“If the new agreement is made, the loan to implement the project will be included through the private sector. It cannot be tracked back to Myanmar government. At present, I am concentrating on Myanmar government to lessen its debt load,” said Sett Aung.
1.5 degree ambition demands radical change, UN warns
It will need fundamental change to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees, but not doing so will cost much more, warns Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
EEC mustn’t steamroll locals’ rights
Military and security personnel took over a public forum on land disputes surrounding the junta’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor project to, “listen to the people”.