1. Xi Jinping delivers speech at Spring Festival gathering

Jan. 21, 2023 (Xinhua) — The Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee and the State Council held a Spring Festival gathering at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of January 20. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech and extended Spring Festival greetings to the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Li Keqiang presided over the gathering.2. Brunei, Singapore vow to boost bilateral ties

Jan. 19, 2023 (Xinhua) — Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah held talks with Lawrence Wong, visiting Singaporean deputy prime minister and minister for finance, at Istana Nurul Iman.According to Brunei’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Sultan and Wong discussed the strong bilateral relations between both countries, particularly on defense and the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. They also talked about the placement of Bruneian civil servants in Singapore under the Memorandum of Understanding on Public Service Capacity Development signed during the Sultan’s state visit to Singapore in August 2022. The Sultan also expressed deep appreciation for the close relations with Singapore, including Singapore’s assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Source: Xinhua)

(Source: Xinhua)

(Source: Xinhua)

3. Thai PM attends Chinese New Year celebration

Jan. 20, 2023 (Xinhua) — Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha attended a Chinese New Year celebration in Ratchaburi province and expressed his warm welcome to Chinese tourists. Prayut said that Thai-Chinese friendship goes back centuries and the Thai people have a tradition of celebrating the Chinese New Year. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Thailand and China have deepened cooperation in various fields for the benefit of both peoples. This year, many places in Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket, have scheduled to hold “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations with rich content and unique features.

4. RCEP takes effect for Indonesia,new trade regulations in place in the country

Jan. 2, 2023 (Xinhua) — The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement took effect for Indonesia on January 2, with the country putting new regulations in place for its trade with other members of the world’s largest free trade deal in terms of population and the size of economy and trade. Indonesia’s new regulations on origin of goods and issuing documents of origin for goods exported from it have been in place starting from January 2, as part of implementing the RCEP agreement. The business sectors in Indonesia can choose between the two types of document, a certificate of origin and a declaration of origin to claim “preferential rates.” Both documents can be issued independently.

5. Indonesia prepares for upcoming ASEAN summit

Jan. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) — Indonesia has already begun its preparation for hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which will take place in the country’s eastern province of East Nusa Tenggara in May, with the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia has taken over the chairmanship of the regional bloc for 2023 from Cambodia, where the ASEAN Summit was held last November. However, the country formally commenced its ASEAN chairmanship on the first day of 2023. Other ASEAN members had high expectations for Indonesia’s chairmanship.

7. Thailand overcomes Vietnam to retain ASEAN football title

Jan. 17, 2023 (Xinhua) — Thailand beat visiting Vietnam 1-0 in the second leg of the ASEAN Football Federation(AFF) Cup final on January 16 to retain the title on a 3-2 aggregate. The two teams entered the match after a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Vietnam’s home ground.Thai skipper Theerathon Bunmathan struck from outside the box in the 24thminute to score for the home team.Thailand last won the biennial event in Singapore after the 2020 edition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The victory on January 16 handed Thailand a record seventh title of the tournament.6. China-ASEAN Expo resumes overseas exhibition

Jan. 16, 2023 (China Daily) — The China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO)will resume its overseas exhibitions in ASEAN countries this year to further promote a high-standard opening-up, since Chinese epidemic control and prevention policies for COVID-19 were optimized. Combined with new sectors such as the digital economy, the green economy, new industrialization, industrysupply chain cooperation, and cross-border e-commerce, the 20thCAEXPO will arrange theme-based exchange activities and help Guangxi’s enterprises to develop business negotiations with ASEAN and RCEP members and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. CAEXPO will set up overseas exhibitions in Singapore, Laos, and Malaysia in March, May, and June of 2023 respectively.

8. Indonesian official wishes on-schedule completion for construction of railway

Jan. 28, 2023 (Xinhua) — Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi invited guests from over 20 Chinese and Indonesian media outlets to witness and observe the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) at the Tegalluar Station.During the tour, Budi conveyed Chinese New Year greetings to Chinese workers and praised the construction progress. He said that the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR is seeing a crucial year, hoping that the Chinese and Indonesian construction units would continue to work hard, collaborate closely, and ensure the on-time completion and launch of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR.