VIENTIANE: Visitor infrastructure in Laos has strengthened in recent years with new hotels, improved highways and, most notably, a new train system that runs as fast as 160kmh and connects some of the country’s most popular tourism destinations.

LANGKAWI, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, has safely arrived in Langkawi Friday (Jan 17) for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) Retreat, which is set to take place on Saturday.

Upskilling workforces, creation of Interpol-style Asean Cybercrime Task Force among proposals from Malaysian ministers to counter online fraud.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of Japan and Laos agreed Tuesday to upgrade their bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," as Tokyo tries to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asia to uphold a rules-based order amid China's rise.

Ediya Co., South Korea's fourth-largest coffee franchise by sales, said Friday it has signed a master franchise deal with a Lao company to enter the Southeast Asian country this year. Ediya plans to open its first outlet in Laos in June under the partnership with Grandview Property Sole Co.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will lead a delegation to participate in Asean foreign ministers' retreat in Langkawi, Malaysia, this weekend (Jan. 18-19), the Cambodian Foreign Ministry has announced.

Malaysia are preparing to naturalize up to seven players in time for the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup, which includes games against Vietnam.

A Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Langkawi, Malaysia, on January 19.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said digitalisation is a "missing component" in all of Malaysia's previous free trade agreements (FTAs). Stressing that digital transformation is one of the priorities that ASEAN is aggressively embarking,

Malaysia wants ASEAN to build collective power in negotiating regulations with social media platforms, but analysts say resistance from member states and Big Tech might prove too much.

BANGKOK -- Thailand plans to tap into improving regional rail connections, particularly the affordable route eventually linking China to Malaysia, to attract millions more visitors this year, according to the head of the country's tourism authority.

The meeting agreed to promote and strengthen the ASEAN tourism cooperation framework by contributing and implementing tourism activities in the ASEAN region and within each member country, and by active participation in the ASEAN-China Tourism 2025,