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culturaldiversityday · 7 months ago

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(1st Plenary Session) 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

The 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, 1-3 May, under the title "Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Leadership in Interconnectivity".

"Leveraging Soft Power for Multilateral Strength: Bolstering compassion, building solidarity, and resisting fragmentation"

Keynote speaker:

H.E. Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO

Moderator:Prof. Mike Hardy, Founding director of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, chairman of the International Leadership Association

Panelists:

Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the UN Department of Peace Operations

Mr. Jean-Christophe Bas, Founder of the Connecters for Peace and The Global Compass, Senior Advisor of the Brazzaville Foundation

Mr. Soltan Mammadov, Member of Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Mr. Gladden Pappin, President of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs

Mr. Effenus Henderson, Co-Director of the Institute of Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion, President and CEO of the Henderworks Inc, DEI Thought Leader, USA

Amb. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR)

Ms. Asmita Satyarthi, CEO of the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion

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Related Sites and Documents

6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue website Baku Process Home Page

Watch the (1st Plenary Session) 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue!

#intercultural dialogue #intergenerational dialogue #plenary session #unaoc #unesco #World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue #Multilateral Strength #compassion #solidarity

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aomsarisa-02 · 9 months ago

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Firearms Legislation in Thailand: Contrasting Approaches and Societal Impact

By Sarisa Ovararint

Thailand has the highest rate of gun ownership in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is ranked 13th in the world with a total of 10.3 million civilian guns. That means with a population of 70.1 million one in every seven people will have a gun. Surprisingly, among these 10 million guns, only 6.2 million are registered legally, while the remaining 4.1 million are illegal. Is it that easy to find illegal guns? Try a search for "illegal guns" on Google. It will show multiple buyers and sellers on both Facebook and X (Twitter) with a starting price of 15,000 New Taiwan Dollars, including delivery through services such as Kerry.

Until the past four years, Thai firearm laws had not been discussed for a long time. But there have been multiple mass shootings in different provinces in Thailand, such as the Nakhon Ratchasima shooting, a daycare shooting, and the Siam Paragon mall shooting. Many people feel that the primary issue with firearm laws is the lack of timely adjustments to accommodate the increasingly complex social context. In 2003, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand conducted a study on firearm laws and proposed that allowing civilians to possess firearms has more negative consequences than benefits.

Apart from firearms contributing to crime, they are also linked to Thai suicide rates. Data from academic journals in criminology and legal science indicate that guns are the third most common method of suicide in Thailand, following hanging and poisoning. Moreover, firearms also pose the risk of accidents, such as unintentional discharges. They also increase the likelihood of disputes and provide opportunities for influential groups such as gun lobbyists to be seen in the news when there are local elections.

In comparison to Thailand, Japan can serve as a prime example of effective gun control. According to Japan’s gun policies, Japanese civilians only own around 310,400 firearms, or, roughly, 1 firearm per 400 people. One reason for this is the stringent process for firearm ownership. Japanese citizens who wish to own a firearm must undergo a rigorous process, including training, both a written and practical exam (with a passing threshold of over 95%), interviews with police officers, mental health assessments, drug tests, and background checks on both the individual and their family for any affiliations with influential groups. Additionally, once granted a license, firearm owners are subject to annual inspections by authorities, who also have the right to request information on stored weapons and ammunition, which must be stored separately and securely locked. Furthermore, licenses are only valid for three years, after which firearm owners must undergo training and repeat the entire process again.

New Zealand is another interesting country in terms of gun control. Following the mosque shootings in Christchurch in 2019, which resulted in 49 deaths and 48 injuries, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a nationwide gun buyback policy to reduce the number of firearms (a policy Japan has implemented since 1685). Moreover, New Zealand has further strengthened its gun control laws by reducing the duration of firearm licenses from 10 years to 5 years, requiring registration of firearm clubs nationwide, banning the sale of semi-automatic rifles, military-style firearms, magazines discussing these products, checking travel histories, and conducting detailed interviews with applicants and their families. Additionally, New Zealand has implemented measures similar to those in Japan, such as requesting visits to homes to inspect and collect all firearms and ammunition.

Thailand's lenient gun laws have led to a proliferation of illegal firearms, contributing to various societal issues. In contrast, Japan and New Zealand's strict regulations have resulted in significantly fewer firearms in civilian hands and lower rates of gun-related incidents. These examples underscore the importance of effective gun control measures in promoting public safety and reducing the negative impacts of widespread firearm ownership. So does permitting gun ownership in Thailand actually make society safer?

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thxnews · 1 year ago

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UK Foreign Secretary Attends ASEAN Meeting in Indonesia

UK Foreign Secretary, attending the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministerial meeting in Indonesia, will emphasize the UK's commitment to a strong and united ASEAN as crucial for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Multilateral Engagement: NATO Conference and UN Security Council

As part of a series of multilateral events this month, the Foreign Secretary's visit to Jakarta aligns with the NATO conference and the UK's presidency at the UN Security Council. This underscores the UK's proactive engagement in global affairs.

Strengthening Economic Cooperation and Reducing Poverty

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will announce up to £25 million in funding to support ASEAN nations' economic growth and poverty reduction. The UK will bring expertise in trade, regulation, and financial services to the region over the next five years, fostering long-term trade and investment links. Southeast Asia's Economic Potential and UK-ASEAN Trade Southeast Asia is poised to become the fourth-largest economy by 2030, with total trade between the UK and ASEAN worth £46.5 billion by the end of 2022. The UK's formal accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc will further enhance British trade and investment ties in the region. Building Prosperity and Security in ASEAN The Foreign Secretary emphasizes the interconnectedness of the UK's security and economies with Southeast Asia. The UK's collaboration with ASEAN includes delivering the "Plan of Action 2022-2026" to improve lives in the region, such as ensuring access to quality education for girls. Initiatives like the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia program contribute to addressing climate change impacts. Strengthening Defence Links and Regional Security The UK has existing defense links across the region, including British Forces Brunei and participation in the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Seeking membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus demonstrates the UK's commitment to regional leadership on defense, security, and stability. The Foreign Secretary's visit to Jakarta follows his attendance at the NATO leaders' summit, where the UK expressed support for a united NATO and increased support for Ukraine. The UK's engagement at the UN Security Council during its presidency further underscores its commitment to a stable and open international order. The Integrated Review Refresh highlights the UK's prioritization of the Indo-Pacific and its steadfast partnerships in safeguarding global security, stability, and prosperity.

History and Purpose of ASEAN

ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, was founded in 1967 as a regional community aimed at bringing together ten Southeast Asian countries. The organization operates on a set of common principles while striving to accelerate economic growth, promote social progress, and foster cultural development through collaborative efforts. ASEAN Member Countries and UK's Partnership The ten member countries of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each nation plays a vital role in shaping ASEAN's initiatives and advancing regional cooperation. In 2021, the UK became an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, solidifying its commitment to engaging with ASEAN and promoting collaboration. In 2022, a roadmap for UK-ASEAN economic, political, and security cooperation, known as the Plan of Action 2022-2026, was agreed upon, highlighting the shared goals and objectives for the partnership. ASEAN's Dialogue Partners Apart from the UK, ASEAN also collaborates with various Dialogue Partners, including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States of America. These partnerships further enhance regional cooperation and facilitate engagements across multiple sectors.

Final Thoughts

ASEAN has played a crucial role in promoting regional stability, economic integration, and cultural exchange among its member countries since its inception in 1967. The organization continues to evolve and expand its partnerships to address the challenges and opportunities in Southeast Asia. As a Dialogue Partner, the UK contributes to ASEAN's vision of a united and prosperous region through various collaborative initiatives and joint efforts. Sources: THX News, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office & The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP. Read the full article

#ASEANForeignMinisterialmeeting #Economiccooperation #Indo-Pacific #Multilateralengagement #NATOconference #povertyreduction #StrongandunitedASEAN #UKForeignSecretary #UK-ASEANtrade #UNSecurityCouncil

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fearlessleaders23 · 1 year ago

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Regional Geopolitics by India’s Involvement in SCO

by Col (Dr) Shantonu Roy Introduction

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or Shanghai Pact, an Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence organization established by China and Russia in 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). It is the world's largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population. As of 2021, its combined GDP was around 20% of global GDP.

The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, and Tajikistan. In June 2001, the leaders of these nations and Uzbekistan met in Shanghai to announce a new organization with deeper political and economic cooperation. In June 2017, it expanded to eight states, with India and Pakistan. Iran joined the group in July 2023. Several countries are engaged as observers or dialogue partners. The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year. The organization also contains the so-called Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

In 2001, the annual summit returned to Shanghai and the group was institutionalized. The five member nations first admitted Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Five mechanism. On 15 June 2001, all six heads of state signed the Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, praising the role played thus far by the Shanghai Five mechanism and aiming to transform it to a higher level of cooperation. From 2001 to 2008, the SCO developed rapidly, establishing a number of permanent bodies and adhoc initiatives dealing with economic and security matters. In July 2015, in Ufa, Russia, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members. In June 2016 in Tashkent, both signed the memorandum of obligations, thereby starting the process of joining the SCO. In June 2017, at a summit in Kazakhstan, India and Pakistan officially joined SCO as full members.

In 2004 the SCO established relations with the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2005, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2005, the Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2007, the Economic Cooperation Organization in 2007, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2011, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in 2014, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 2015. in 2018, SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has established relations with the African Union's African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT). The United States applied for observer status in the SCO, but was rejected in 2005.

Regional Dynamics

Basically, it was felt that China created the SCO for curbing Russia’s dominance in the area. But, the heads of the member states point out that, against the backdrop of a contradictory process of globalisation, multilateral cooperation, which is based on the principles of equal right and mutual respect, non-intervention in internal affairs of sovereign states, non-confrontational way of thinking and consecutive movement towards democratisation of international relations, contributes to overall peace and security, and they collectively call upon the international community, irrespective of its differences in ideology and social structure, to form a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and interaction. It is trying to provide an unique opportunity to take part in the process of forming a fundamentally new model of geopolitical integration. The SCO was not a platform for resolving bilateral issues, and its members were also reluctant to mediate disputes multilaterally. Due to the widely divergent agendas among member states, Indian commentators even called it the "Shanghai Contradiction Organisation".

The SCO's main achievement this far is to have offered its members a cooperative forum to balance their conflicting interests and to ease bilateral tensions. It has built up joint capabilities and has agreed on common approaches in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism. However, major shortcomings, such as institutional weaknesses, a lack of common financial funds for the implementation of joint projects and conflicting national interests have prevented the SCO from achieving a higher level of regional cooperation in other areas.

India’s Involvement

India has steadfastly used its diplomatic capital to campaign for strengthening cooperation and used the SCO platform to collaborate with regional counterparts. In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Qingdao, China, coined the acronym SECURE to highlight the pressing regional challenges facing the SCO, where S stands for security of citizens, E – economic development for all, C – connecting the region, U – uniting the people, R – respect for sovereignty and integrity, and E for environmental protection.

India has been sensitising the influential members of SCO on Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism. The dreaded global and regional terror outfits, such as al-Qaeda, Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) to secure the SCO and greater Eurasian region from these radical extremist forces. The issue resonates with China, Russia and Central Asian Republics (CARs), which are facing increasing threats. Another common challenge to the SCO region is the illicit drug trade emanating from the Af-Pak region. In 2021, more than 80 per cent of opium and heroin supplies originated from Afghanistan via different routes to the global opium market. The greater involvement of terror outfits in the narcotic trade has sprung new geo-political challenges to the SCO. It has become a significant funding source for anti-state activities by the region’s dreaded terror groups and radical Islamists. India has been trying to garner support for putting an end to all these.

This year the summit which was held virtually at Delhi had the highlights

The New Delhi Declaration was signed by the member nations, which states that the international community must come together to "counter the activities of terrorist, separatist and extremist groups, paying special attention to preventing the spread of religious intolerance, aggressive nationalism, ethnic and racial discrimination, xenophobia, ideas of fascism and chauvinism."

Joint Statements:

The leaders adopted two thematic joint statements - one on cooperation in countering the radicalisation leading to separatism, extremism, and terrorism and the second one cooperation in the field of digital transformation.

New Pillars of Cooperation:

India has created five new pillars and focus area for cooperation in the SCO, which include,

Startups and Innovation

Traditional Medicine

Youth Empowerment

Digital Inclusion

Shared Buddhist Heritage

India's Reservations on BRI:

India refused to be part of the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) of the SCO members’ economic strategy statement, mentioning “interested member states’.India's opposition to the BRI stems from its inclusion of projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), which India considers a violation of its sovereignty.

Conclusion

Last but not least, there continues to be a perception in the West that SCO is an anti-West forum. However, India’s growing economic and political stature at the global level in the era of multi-vector foreign policy has made New Delhi a potential player in turning SCO into a development oriented organisation in Eurasia rather than an anti-west alliance. That is why New Delhi has been stressing maintaining peace and security based on UN Charter provisions to ensure the collective prosperity of the region.

India has advocated win-win cooperation within the SCO for regional or trans-regional connectivity, regional security and defence collaboration, combating state-sponsored terrorism, and a peaceful, prosperous Afghanistan with an inclusive government and peaceful global order without rival blocks. The challenge for New Delhi, going forward, will remain one of using its substantial diplomatic capital toward making the Eurasian region a driver of economic growth and prosperity within the ambit of SCO.

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southeastasianists · 4 years ago

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Protesters against the military in Myanmar have taken to social media to call for a boycott of some Singaporean F&B brands, such as Tiger Beer and Ya Kun Kaya Toast, reason being “Singapore is not supporting the voices of Myanmar people”.

Earlier on, it was reported that de facto leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, along with President Win Myint and other senior politicians, were detained by the military junta on 1 February due to the alleged fraud in the election held in November last year.

A state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar, while thousands of people have rallied to protest against the military takeover.

Protesters have also urged people to boycott businesses that are linked to the military.

Just recently, graphics calling for a boycott of brands from Singapore have been circulating on social media platforms.

Tiger Beer, BreadTalk, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Beauty In The Pot, Crystal Jade Kitchen, and Ippudo were among the brands illustrated in the graphics, with the statements: “Singapore is not respecting the voices of Myanmar People, Singapore is supporting the Dictatorship”.

The graphics emerged after Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament on Tuesday (16 Feb) that it would be “crucial” for Singapore to separate politics and business, and “let businesses make commercial decisions and investment decisions on their own merits”.

The Minister, who was responding to parliamentary questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) Christopher de Souza and Gerald Giam, believes that this would be “a good time” to maintain such discipline.

“So no, I will not give specific advice to companies, but I will make, to the maximum extent possible, all information available in this House and beyond, so that people can make their own commercial and investment decisions,” he noted.

Dr Balakrishnan also acknowledged that Singapore is the largest investor in Myanmar and revealed that the country’s cumulative approved investments were at US$24.1 billion as of December last year.

However, he claimed that the major proportion of the investments have occurred in the last five years under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

In fact, the last five years saw “a ten-fold increase” in Singapore’s direct investments in Myanmar, compared to the preceding five-year period, said Dr Balakrishnan.

“I want to stress that companies made these investment decisions on commercial grounds.

“They did not do so because of political influence, or political suggestion on our part. But I believe that the commercial companies saw promising opportunities in Myanmar that was undergoing democratic transition,” he added.

Singapore’s influence on Myanmar

Apparently, Singapore’s investment in Myanmar involved 305 firms in total, according to Dr Oh Su-Ann’s report in 2019 – a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

The Global New Light of Myanmar reported last October that about 20 Singapore-listed enterprises brought in US$1.85 billion into Myanmar in the past financial year 2019-2020, making it the top source of foreign investment in the country.

In fact, several Singapore-run businesses were also linked to the military in Myanmar.

Earlier on 10 February, a Burmese citizen working in Singapore Swe Sin Tha filed a police report against two companies – namely Excellence Metal Casting and STE Global Trading – for allegedly supporting the military in Myanmar.

“I have submitted a police report because the Singapore government has been known to prosecute people based on that.

“There is a Singaporean listed as a director for STE Global Trading, together with Tun Hlaing, director of the Myanmar Directorate for Defence Industries,” said the blogger in her Facebook post.

She also included a copy of the police report and two supporting documents in the post.

One of the documents was to prove the directorship – which was obtained from Singapore’s Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority – and another was an excerpt from the United Nations Security Council report linking Tun Hlaing with the two companies.

Ms Swe had also compiled a list of Singapore-run businesses which are linked to the military in her blog post on 9 February.

Citing from Burma Campaign’s last year “Dirty List”, she noted that these companies are including Grab, Coda Pay, Global Airfreight, HyalRoute, Infinity Global Solutions, Iseaco Investment, Norse Group, Pacifica International Lines and Transworld Group Singapore.

Separately, Razer’s co-founder and director Lim Kaling decided to sell his one-third stake in a joint venture that owns RMH Singapore – which in turn owns 49 per cent of Myanmar’s cigarette maker Virginia Tobacco Company (VCTL) – after a petition was launched calling for his removal from Razer’s board unless he cut ties with the military.

Another 51 per cent of VCTL is owned by the military-linked Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company (MEHL).

Additionally, in October 2019, ST Engineering announced that its electronics sector entered into a collaboration with Myanmar partner, Alliance Urban Transports (AUT) to provide cybersecurity services and training for Myanmar’s government, financial services and insurance sectors.

ST Engineering stated in a press release that it will jointly operate a security operations centre in Yangon with AUT.

It has also been suggested that anti-drone guns that the Myanmar military government is using, comes from TRD, a Singapore-based company which also has an office in Myanmar.

Singapore’s stance on Myanmar military coup

Singapore has earlier expressed its “grave concern” about the ongoing political situation in Myanmar.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and hope all parties involved will exercise restraint, maintain dialogue, and work towards a positive and peaceful outcome,” said Singapore’s representative at the UN Human Rights Council meeting on 12 Feb.

“Myanmar is a close friend of Singapore and a key member of ASEAN. We hope that the situation will return to normal as soon as possible,” she added, referring to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

However, Singaporean human rights lawyer M Ravi said Singapore’s statement was “appalling” and “highly insensitive” to the people of Myanmar, as it was the police and other authorities who had used bullets and carried out arrests of peaceful protesters without any warrant.

“What stands out in contrast to other speeches: it does not condemn the military takeover, does not call for release of prisoners (!) and does not call for return to democracy or respect for Nov. 2020 elections,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday (14 Feb).

“Some people have contacted me regarding this. I will say to our Myanmar friends that all right-thinking Singaporeans oppose the military takeover and people of Singapore condemn the serious violations of human rights and the ongoing atrocities committed by the military,” Mr Ravi assured.

#Southeast Asia #Burma #Myanmar #Singapore #Foreign Investment #Military Coup #Boycott

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Monday, April 26, 2021

California ponders slow growth future (AP) In 1962, when California’s population of more than 17 million surpassed New York’s, Gov. Pat Brown celebrated by declaring a state holiday. In the coming days, when the U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release the state’s latest head count, there probably will be no celebrations. Over the past decade, California’s average annual population growth rate slipped to 0.06%—lower than at any time since at least 1900. The state is facing the prospect of losing a U.S. House seat for the first time in its history, while political rivals Texas and Florida add more residents and political clout. The reality behind the slowed growth isn’t complicated. Experts point to three major factors: declining birth rates; a long-standing trend of fewer people moving in from other states than leaving; and a drop in international immigration, particularly from Asia, which has made up for people moving to other states. California is in the throes of a yearslong housing crisis as building fails to keep up with demand, forcing more people onto the streets and making home ownership unattainable for many. The state has the nation’s highest poverty rate when housing is taken into account. Its water resources are consistently taxed, and the state has spent more than half of the past decade in drought. Freeways are jammed as more people move to the suburbs, and worsening wildfires are destroying homes and communities.

Armenians Celebrate Biden’s Genocide Declaration as Furious Turkey Summons US Ambassador (Newsweek) Armenia celebrated President Joe Biden’s recognition of the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide on Saturday, as Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador and strongly condemned the move. In acknowledging of the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, Biden went further than his predecessors in the White House after years of careful language on the issue. The move risks fracturing America’s relationship with Turkey, a longtime U.S. ally and NATO partner. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent Biden a letter praising his statement. Meanwhile, officials in Turkey quickly denounced Biden’s remarks and summoned the US Ambassador to Ankara. In a statement, Turkey said its foreign minister, Sedat Onal, has told ambassador David Satterfield that Biden’s remarks caused “wounds in ties that will be hard to repair.” Onal also reportedly told Satterfield that Turkey “rejected it, found it unacceptable and condemned in the strongest terms.”

Ahead of Geneva talks, Cypriots march for peace (Reuters) Thousands of Cypriots from both sides of a dividing line splitting their island marched for peace on Saturday, ahead of informal talks in Geneva next week on the future of negotiations. With some holding olive branches, people walked in the bright spring sunshine around the medieval walls circling the capital, Nicosia. The United Nations has called for informal talks of parties in the Cyprus dispute in Geneva on April 27-29, in an attempt to look for a way forward in resuming peace talks that collapsed in mid-2017. Prospects for progress appear slim, with each side sticking to their respective positions. Greek Cypriots say Cyprus should be reunited under a federal umbrella, citing relevant United Nations resolutions. The newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader has called for a two-state resolution. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup, though the seeds of separation were sown earlier, when a power-sharing administration crumbled in violence in 1963, just three years after independence from Britain.

World’s Biggest Covid Crisis Threatens Modi’s Grip on India (Bloomberg) As India recorded more than 234,000 new Covid-19 infections last Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an election rally in the West Bengal town of Asansol and tweeted: “I’ve never seen such huge crowds.” The second wave of the coronavirus has since grown into a tsunami. India is now the global coronavirus hotspot, setting records for the world’s highest number of daily cases. Images of hospitals overflowing with the sick and dying are flooding social media, as medical staff and the public alike make desperate appeals for oxygen supplies. The political and financial capitals of New Delhi and Mumbai are in lockdown, with only the sound of ambulance sirens punctuating the quiet, but there’s a growing chorus of blame directed at Modi over his government’s handling of the pandemic. “At this crucial time he is fighting for votes and not against Covid,” said Panchanan Maharana, a community activist from the state of Odisha, who previously supported Modi’s policies but will now look for alternative parties to back. “He is failing to deliver—he should stop talking and focus on saving people’s lives and livelihoods.” Modi is seen by many as a polarizing leader whose brand of nationalism that promotes the dominance of Hindus has appalled and enraptured the nation. Whether the pandemic will dent his appeal remains unclear.

ASEAN leaders tell Myanmar coup general to end killings (AP) Southeast Asian leaders demanded an immediate end to killings and the release of political detainees in Myanmar in an emergency summit Saturday with its top general and coup leader who, according to Malaysia’s prime minister, did not reject them outright. The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also told Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during the two-hour talks in Jakarta that a dialogue between contending parties in Myanmar should immediately start, with the help of ASEAN envoys. Daily shootings by police and soldiers since the Feb. 1 coup have killed more than 700 mostly peaceful protesters and bystanders, according to several independent tallies. The messages conveyed to Min Aung Hlaing were unusually blunt and could be seen as a breach of the conservative 10-nation bloc’s bedrock principle forbidding member states from interfering in each other’s affairs. But Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that policy should not lead to inaction if a domestic situation “jeopardizes the peace, security, and stability of ASEAN and the wider region” and there is international clamor for resolute action.

Sunken missing Indonesian submarine found broken into pieces (Reuters) A missing Indonesian submarine has been found, broken into at least three parts, at the bottom of the Bali Sea, army and navy officials said on Sunday, as the president sent condolences to relatives of the 53 crew. Navy chief of staff Yudo Margono said the crew were not to blame for the accident and that the submarine did not experience a blackout, blaming “forces of nature”. A sonar scan on Saturday detected the submarine at 850 metres (2,790 feet), far beyond the Nanggala’s diving range.

At least 82 die in Baghdad COVID hospital fire (Reuters) A fire sparked by an oxygen tank explosion killed at least 82 people and injured 110 at a hospital in Baghdad that had been equipped to house COVID-19 patients, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Sunday. “We urgently need to review safety measures at all hospitals to prevent such a painful incident from happening in future,” spokesman Khalid al-Muhanna told state television, announcing the toll.

Struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic, people turn to strangers online for help (Washington Post) The pandemic has been disastrous for millions of families across the United States. Roughly 8.5 million jobs have not returned since February 2020. Meanwhile, more than 564,000 people have died of the coronavirus, and 100,000 small businesses closed permanently in just the first three months of the crisis. The government has provided help, including through multiple relief packages that sent out three rounds of stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits. But for many people it hasn’t been enough—or come quickly enough—to avoid eviction, put food on the table and cover a growing pile of monthly bills. Enter crowdfunding, which has taken off more than ever in the past year as a way to supplement income. Sites like GoFundMe, Kickstarter or even Facebook allow people and businesses to establish a cause—or set up a page laying out why they (or someone they are raising the money for) need money, and what the cash will go toward. After demand spiked last year, GoFundMe in October formalized a new category specifically for rent, food and bills. More than $100 million had been raised at that time year-to-date for basic living expenses in tens of thousands of campaigns during 2020—a 150 percent increase over 2019. But a year into the pandemic, some individual crowdfunding campaigns are reporting little success raising donations to cover basic expenses. As pandemic fatigue worsens, it’s getting hard to raise cash for basic expenses this way. Daryl Hatton, CEO and founder of FundRazr said when he browsed through the campaigns for basic expenses, most were getting little or no donations. “I saw a whole bunch of zeros,” he said. Crowdfunding still tends to work best when people have a compelling story to tell.

Older people are the one group egalitarians discriminate against (Quartz) Young people have always been critical of their elders. What’s noteworthy about the way millennials and Zoomers talk about Baby Boomers today isn’t their disdain but its particulars: They resent the older generation because they feel shortchanged, deprived of promising futures. Gen Z, for example, famously channeled their frustration with the generation they hold responsible for issues like climate change and wealth inequality into the simple, sarcastic meme “OK boomer.” Vaccines aside, these economic frustrations are grounded in reality. At the same time, younger people’s systemic objections to the distribution of wealth and power in the US can wind up curdling into ageism. A new paper, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, highlights the importance of guarding against this bias. Over 80% of Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 say they experience ageism in their everyday lives, according to a 2020 poll from the University of Michigan. “I think many people overlook ageism as a form of prejudice in American society,” says Ashley Martin, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University, who co-authored the paper with Michael North, an assistant professor at New York University. “It is often overlooked as an “ism” altogether, not only being condoned but often even promoted.” The paper identifies a surprising link between ageism and egalitarianism. The more participants in the study supported the principle of equality for all, the more likely they were to be biased against older people.

#headlines #news

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recruitmenttemporary · 4 years ago

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Meinhardt Opens New Office Within The Kingdom Of Cambodia

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Acted for Polyconcept, the largest international supplier of promotional products, within the labour registration, employment termination, labour compliances and different labour associated issues. Ltd., a number one built-in trading company, in the preparation of its inner laws and different regulatory filings.

Acted for Workday, Inc., an on demand monetary administration and human capital administration software program vendor, via Lewis Silkin London, on regular updates on labour and employment associated regulations. Acted for Marks and Spencer Asia Pacific Limited, a serious British multinational retailer, in relation to employment termination, preparation of its inside rules, different regulatory filings and labour associated issues.

As such, the profitable individual will lead and manage all parts of the F&B business while establishing and meeting expansion targets, championing continuous enchancment of the customer proposition, creating synergy between operations and gross sales performance targets and making certain consistency of brand name standards.

In brief, the position will drive store expansion, sales performance, brand positioning, customer experience and the event of robust Franchise Partner relationships while concurrently leading and motivating a group.

He was a Senior Officer and Consultant of the National Productivity Board during the period 1997 to 2003 and had since offered consulting services in areas of productiveness and high quality to many corporations in Singapore.

Acted for Naga World Limited, a subsidiary of NagaCorp Ltd, a public listed gaming and entertainment firm on the principle board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, in relation to labour associated issues and other general advice associated to employment.

Acted for Dufry Group, a leading international traveler retailer, in relation to termination of employment and other labour related issues. Acting for The William Carter’s Company, a major American designer and marketer of children's apparel, in the labour compliances of its consultant workplace in Cambodia, other regulatory filings and other common advice.

Acted for DKSH Ltd., a subsidiary of DKSH, a Swiss Market Expansion Services Group, in relation to the authorized due diligence for the purpose of share acquisition of a natural mineral water manufacturing enterprise in Cambodia. Acted for Nature Flooring Hong Kong Limited, a company based in Hong Kong, in relation to its potential equity acquisition of a variety of flooring manufacturing companies located in Sihanouk Ville Special Economic Zone.

Acted for Dragon Air and Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong based mostly main airline firms, in relation to the employment mannequin/arrangement.

Acting for Tan Chong Motor, a Malaysia-based mostly multinational corporation that's active in automobile meeting, manufacturing, distribution and gross sales, however is greatest often known as the franchise holder of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, in relation to drafting of the interior work guidelines for its subsidiary in Cambodia

. Acted for National Bank of Canada, the sixth largest industrial financial institution in Canada, in relation to its acquisition of fairness shares and additional investment in Advanced Bank of Asia Limited, a leading industrial financial institution in Cambodia.

Acting for Moo Moo Farms Co., Ltd., the primary dairy farm in Cambodia, in relation to the equity investments by Perry Farms, LLC, a number one US primarily based agricultural firm.

The firm presents skilled mechanical, electrical and piped engineering design and administration services to our purchasers. We have managed tasks from numerous sectors together with institutional, leisure, industrial, residential and industrial.

We specialise in conducting research that assess the environmental and social efficiency of project developers looking for or receiving financing from the worldwide monetary institutions , export credit score agencies, international funding banks and overseas growth businesses.

We additionally present independent professional second opinion, advisory and peer evaluate companies on behalf of project lenders and traders. Want to maneuver your corporation online, or construct a another gross sales channel online both in Cambodia and within the wider ASEAN area.

Chief Resource Person to plan, supervise and conduct the two-week in-Country Advanced Development of Productivity Practitioners Course coaching 29 consultants for the National Productivity Organisation in Pakistan in 2008. The course lined sharing of the experiences overlaying more than 10 advanced productivity techniques utilized in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Chief Resource Person to plan, supervise and conduct the 2-week in-Country Basic Development of Productivity Practitioners Course coaching 27 consultants for the National Iranian Productivity Centre in Iran in 2008.

The course lined sharing of the experiences masking more than 20 productivity methods utilized in Singapore and the Philippines. Chief Resource Person to plan, supervise and conduct the two-week in-Country Basic Development of Productivity Practitioners Course training 21 consultants in for the National Productivity Council in India in 2008. startup management meaning

Acted for Moo Moo Farms Co., Ltd., the first dairy farm in Cambodia, in relation to its equity restructuring and regulatory filings. Acted for Khema Global Co., Ltd., holding the operation of Khema clinics, main private medical clinics in Cambodia, in relation to the registration of its branch and different regulatory submitting associated issues.

I actually have strived to understand recent ideas, bringing enthusiasm and a excessive degree of execution to my work. Innovations have included creating a devoted Research and Consulting group, with a separate Valuation staff, whilst guaranteeing they continue to be intently linked and mutually supportive.

Information sharing is essential to both groups and they remain strongly linked whilst workers members are better in a position to focus on the task at hand and play to their own strengths.

Ideally, interested candidates may also provide a record of latest idea improvement and roll-out. There is a excessive expectation that the successful candidate will supply excellent communication and interpersonal skills full with a powerful capability to affect. To qualify for this role, candidate will need to have proven expertise in Quick Service Restaurants and Restaurant Franchising.

Acted for CPAC Concrete Products Co., Ltd., an affiliate company of SCG, a Thai-primarily based leading business conglomerate within the ASEAN region, in relation to its enterprise closure in Cambodia.

SLP Environmental has been lively in Cambodia since 2009 providing high quality environmental advisor and health and security consultancy companies all through the country.

Our work is rooted in a deep understanding of the native surroundings and people who work in it. We monitor latest HR trends and developments ensuring that our shoppers are confident within the solutions we craft and choices we take collectively.

We utilize our sturdy foundation in each of these hospitality administration fields to realize our commitment to supply most profitability to the bottom line for our business companions.

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interimmanagement01 · 4 years ago

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Business Companion Singapore

HR Generalists currently performing a conventional HR position, with three-5 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial capability, transiting into a HR Business Partner function. In current years Michael labored in China for Marriott to open new properties and a few of its flagship resorts.

Michael also worked for the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Malaysia as their Asia Pacific Director of Operations liable for organizing and managing trade-related MICE activities. In his tenure, he has also developed good relationship with key stakeholders and decision makers in many national oil companies and international oil and fuel companies.

Michael additionally labored as an impartial advisor handling several pre-opening and restructuring projects. Elsie has labored in various multi-national and local SMEs and in several sectors similar to manufacturing, electronics, construction, engineering and oil & gasoline. Her span of duty and experience are spent in varied regional and leadership roles across totally different regions in ASEAN, Australia, China and Middle East.

Regional experiences within the same or associated business will placed you a league above the remainder. You shall be someone with excellent individuals expertise when it comes to staff’ related issues and being adaptable to modifications.

You will also be someone who is flexible in dealing with people of all cultural ranges and demographic backgrounds. Apart from the mentioned, you will also be someone who enjoys working in a collaborative and cohesive surroundings with the will to develop along with the organization.

interim management Cambodia will also support the senior management in worth-added reports focused on business metrics, month-to-month outcomes and P&L reviews. You will work intently with the regional accounting groups which helps the finance operations.

An thrilling HR Business Partner (six-month contract) job has simply turn out to be out there at a world agency based in Singapore. This role supports the Head of HR in partnering with the enterprise to make sure that the appropriate level of HR support and service is offered to them in accordance with their enterprise necessities in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Find everything you want on your HPE partnership, all in one secure place. Get quick, direct access to personalised gross sales instruments and sources like collaboration, coaching, demand generation and enterprise-administration perception.

You can delete any information that you share on these sites at any time through your relevant social media platform’s account. Shell doesn't observe your exercise throughout the different social media sites that you just use.

Entrepreneurs who entice this kind of investor must be clear in their thoughts that they're on the lookout for a associate who will provide support and supply their opinion on tips on how to run the company.

Whilst income are split equally between partners, liability for loses are also cut up between all parties, due to this fact It goes with out saying that not all investors or entrepreneurs are interested in this type of partnership.

At Grab, we consider that every one partnerships ought to begin with figuring out the strategic intent of our partners. We prefer to take over a Fashion or Jewelry Accessories Retail Shop Interested enterprise homeowners please contact us at Tel or e mail to your proposals for our consideration.

We prefer to take over promoting or trading of Wellness and Healthcare Product Business Interested enterprise house owners please contact us at Tel or e-mail your proposals to for our consideration.

She has specific experience and strength in talent acquisition, human resource growth, compensation and advantages improvement, payroll administration and management, talent administration, worker communication and relations. Coupled with that, she has wonderful enterprise acumen with strong work ethics.

His latest HR achievements embody the profitable implementation of the new labour contract and commerce union setup at Lotus Supermarket 's corporate head-office and across its 32 cities throughout North, South, South-west and East regions of China.

Besides, he having assisted a neighborhood Chinese labour legislation agency-HR Laboroot to publish a new labour contract law e-book. William Toh has an in depth working experience in China since 1992 and having more than 25 years of working expertise which covered areas together with Education, Business Development, General Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership & Talent Development, Service Quality & Excellence and Sales Management.

Decades of expertise in native and regional HR practices and expert data in labour legal guidelines. An opportunity to work with a very dynamic and culturally numerous staff from respected organizations. Our shopper is a expertise start-up arm of an established US Consulting firm.

Let's work together to design long-time period, revolutionary and integrated product solutions - to better serve your small business wants. Any taste enterprise is manufacturing and produce flavoring, extracts & important oil for food or creating beverage corporations are excited about selling.

We have potential buyers are trying the acquisition of such similar enterprise. Looking purchase over A Gymnasium Fitness Centre, any sizes shall be thought of.

Trusted and innovative companion programmes that allow you to create solutions and providers to rework industries, markets and lives. Our greater than 500,000 people in more than one hundred twenty countries, combine unmatched experience and specialised skills throughout greater than forty industries.

Michael Giam is an international business professional with a long time of senior management experience working in extremely complex and cross-cultural business environments. Michael’s international breadth of expertise spans both in public institutions and personal firms focusing primarily on business fundamentals and human capital to determine clear and achievable strategic enterprise goals.

William has served in main corporations in the areas of enterprise consultation, common administration and HR management working experiences which include AstraZeneca , Beecham SmithKline , Cisco , General Electric , HP , IBM-Lotus Dev. , ITE , Lenovo , Legend-AOL , Lotus Supermarket ;

Merchant Bank , Motorola , Philips , Singapore Telecommunication , SITA , Siemens , Statschippac and Standard Chartered Bank . • Provide the chance for HR Generalists to transit into strategic HR business companion function and set up their presence as a revered strategic HR Business Partner within the business.

Extensive proven digital experience (5+) in medium-giant organizations working with Marketing, Medical and Commercial groups. Proven experience working with senior business leadership groups creating and delivering technique and working plans with demonstrated competency in strategic thinking, management and relationship administration.

Extensive "hands-on" data in omni-channel communication, gross sales enablement and project management to deliver cutting-edge technical solutions to assist campaigns and revolutionary marketing strategies that accelerate development.

S/he works very intently with the Customer Experience Lead as well as play an necessary role in the company's go to market strategy. A Business Partner on the NTP refers to a enterprise entity that's linked to your corporation through the NTP. You can invite or add your business companions on the NTP at present to establish a enterprise connection and to grow your community.

In doing so, you can start collaborating by using the NTP's Data Repository tool for your corporation transactions.

Our client is a famend European life science firm listed in the inventory change. They are increasing their presence in APAC and are taking a look at growing their staff in Asia. They are a good company established for more than 30 years with a reputation of being one of the top 10 medical units firm in their speciality within the life science vertical.

Get the best experience with sooner job functions and easy accessibility to your CV and profile. For agreements which have a term of more than 5 years and for the needs set out above, these agreements might be held for 35 years with impact from the commencement of the settlement.

He/She ought to be capable of determine key areas of improvement, mannequin the ROI - influence and drive discovery or scoping workshops and problem the "status quo". S/he provides consultancy and acts as an in-depth expertise skilled and trusted advisor and associate on any expertise associated initiatives and improvements across all markets in the region.

The unique Crate and Barrel assortment of housewares and furniture can rework your space and your corporation. Your buyer is our buyer, and we know how to create the particular away-from-home experiences that they are looking for.

NTP supports the current and former launch versions of Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Opera internet browsers. If you're using an earlier model, your expertise could also be restricted to the technical capabilities of your gadget platform and browser.

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pinoyparazzi · 8 years ago

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Pag-IBIG Fund Loyalty Card holders reach 3M

Pag-IBIG Fund reported that there are now three million holders of the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card, with nearly 250,000 cardholders enjoying over PhP 12 Million in discounts since it was launched in 2014. “We now have three million Pag-IBIG members who availed of the Loyalty Card and are enjoying the...

Continue Reading... http://www.pinoyparazzi.com/pag-ibig-fund-loyalty-card-holders-reach-3m/

#ASEAN Social Security Association #Excellence Award #Pag-IBIG Fund #Pag-IBIG Fund Loyalty Card #Pag-IBIG Fund OIC Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti

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italonews22-blog · 2 years ago

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The Russian Bridge to the East: a new step towards multipolarity

The Eastern Economic Forum is traditionally held on the site of the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island. However, this year, this circumstance of place takes on a symbolic connotation. At a time when the collective West is seeking to isolate Russia, Russky Island and its Russian Bridge are becoming new landmarks on the road to a multipolar world.

EEF-2022 demonstrated that Russia is responding to the challenges by actively strengthening ties with the East. In his address to the participants, organisers and guests of the 7th Eastern Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin outlined the main starting points and vectors of multipolarity: "Direct bilateral cooperation between Asia-Pacific countries is strengthening and gaining momentum, as is their cooperation within such influential associations as Eurasia, the SCO, BRICS, APEC and ASEAN.

At the end of the Forum, it is reported that a record number of investment agreements were signed, as well as memoranda and agreements of intent. A total of 296 agreements worth a total of RUB 3 trillion 272 billion were signed, including agreements on infrastructure and transport projects, the development of major deposits, as well as in the fields of construction, industry and agriculture.

Let us note the following symbolic moments.

Sixty-eight countries participated in the forum. Among the foreign delegations to EEF-2022, the most representative was that of China (205 people). The second largest delegation was from Myanmar (87 people). Now, let us look at the political context of such statistics. It would not have existed for another year or two. At any rate, this aspect would not be so conspicuous: it is logical that contacts with the largest Asian power would be intensified at the Eastern Economic Forum. The fact that there was a large delegation from Myanmar would also not have been surprising. 54 million people is more than, for instance, in Ukraine. Although almost half as large as Vietnam, and that country's delegation was small.

The said statistics seem to show us that, against the background of Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan, it is China that is Russia's active economic partner, which is under sanctionary pressure from the collective West.

Very revealing was Vladimir Putin's plenary session on 7 September, attended by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar, together with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), took part in the discussion 'The Role of the SCO in a Changing World'. In the discussion 'Gateway to a Multipolar World. The Far East in the New Architecture of International Relations', China was represented by Wang Wen, Executive Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the People's University of China (RDCY). Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Kan Zaw attended the Russia-ASEAN session, etc.

As part of the EEF-2022 business programme, one of the partner events was "Infrastructure as a Growth Driver - China's Experience".

The International Centre for Joint Initiatives (ICJI) organised a session entitled "Russia-China: trade cannot be stopped, where do we put the comma?”.

Nikolay Vavilov, deputy director general of ICJI and a Chinese scholar, noted that trade between Russia and China has doubled in a decade and is likely to grow by another 30% in 2022, surpassing trade between Russia and Europe for the first time. Among the points of growth, he names high technology, automotive, and food security.

Such discussions are also becoming a platform for demonstrating intentions. For example, Zhang Tian, General Director of the Russia Division of the International Cooperation Directorate of iFlytek (one of the global IT giants and the largest developer of artificial intelligence in Asia); Zhang Xinhong, General Director of Zhengzhou Coal Mining Company (manufacturer of equipment used to extract two thirds of China's coal), said they were ready to cooperate with the Russian market; Wang Jian, head of the foreign trade department of Henan Wolfe Autoparts Co (a major auto parts manufacturer); Li Liang, chairman of Shengli Oilfield Kangbei Petroleum Engineering Equipment Co; Sun Deming, foreign marketing director of Weichai Lovol Heavy Industry Co (an agricultural machinery supplier).

A special theme is the Myanmar factor, which is an irritant to the collective West. A European analogy is in order. The West outcasts that state on the pretext that there was a coup d'état in February 2021. At the same time, Ukraine, where the same coup took place back in February 2014, gets the "green light" from the collective West. It is encouraged in every way possible by its Western partners. The West has safely ignored both the blatant human rights violations in Ukraine and the fact that the political forces that seized power in the country through an unconstitutional coup have unleashed a civil war in Donbas in less than two months. UN Secretary General António Guterres is demanding that Myanmar return to an inclusive and democratic society, although Ukraine has given much more reason to make such demands of it in eight years.

The Myanmar-Ukraine analogy intensifies and questions about double standards are exacerbated when it comes to nuclear power. On 6 September 2022, the Forum signed a Roadmap for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy for 2022-2023 between ROSATOM, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Electrification of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The document envisages specific steps to further build Russian-Myanmar cooperation in the nuclear sphere, such as the expansion of the bilateral regulatory framework, the possible implementation of a nuclear power plant project with small reactors in Myanmar, as well as personnel training and the formation of a positive public opinion regarding nuclear power in Myanmar.

While Myanmar's current authorities are thinking about shaping a positive public opinion regarding nuclear energy, the West is working in the opposite direction. US-based Radio Free Asia states: "Nuclear energy cooperation between Myanmar and Russia is a cause for concern. Some analysts say this is the first step in the junta's plan to develop nuclear weapons. The junta has announced that it will use nuclear energy for power generation, research, medicine and industry. However, Captain Kaun Tu Win, an army officer who has joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), believes the agreement is part of the junta's efforts to develop nuclear weapons."

Myanmar's nuclear ambitions have instantly raised fears among pro-Western analysts. Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the think tank Theining Institute for Strategic Studies, contradicts them: "Building a nuclear reactor in Myanmar is acceptable because it would help meet the country's electricity needs. As for the prospect of building nuclear weapons from nuclear waste, it should not be a concern as long as the waste is returned to Russia under IAEA supervision."

It should be noted that the current Myanmar authorities have not announced the prospect of building nuclear weapons. While it was a similar statement by Ukrainian President Zelensky about such intentions that was the trigger for a special military operation by Russia.

The Myanmar factor shows how the foundations of the unipolar world with its double standards are not flawless. Moreover, Russia is not shy about building a partnership with this Asian country. During a meeting with Myanmar State Administrative Council chairman Min Aung Hlaing, Vladimir Putin said: "Our relations are developing positively. The volume of trade and economic ties is still modest in absolute terms, but the trend is very good: 2.4 times more in the first half of this year.

We can already say that the participants of the EEF 2022 have not merely indicated their intentions, but have started a real movement towards multipolarity.

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danstory · 2 years ago