Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Durian powers Sino-Thai friendship
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 04/07/2023
» When it comes to the evolution of Sino-Thai relations, one must put aside all the geopolitical determinants and even such subjects as the current Russia-Ukraine war, the ramifications of the US-China standoff and tourism. The topic is durian, which serves as the weathervane of their long-standing bilateral ties. The durian, known worldwide as the "King of Fruits", is more than just a sticky, thorny and, yes, smelly fruit; they also define the nature of the five-decade-old Sino-Thai relations.
Embedding S Korea in Southeast Asia
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 19/11/2019
» For three days from Nov 25-27 in the port city of Busan, South Korean President Moon Jae-in will have a rare opportunity that eluded his predecessors -- to set in cast iron the future and shape of South Korean-Asean and Mekong riparian country relations amid the ever-changing regional and international environment.
A sneak peek at the 35th Asean summit
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 29/10/2019
» Next week, the sprawling IMPACT Muang Thong Thani complex will be temporarily transformed into an international arena for talks between the world's greatest movers-and-shakers.
Can China-Japan-S Korea get closer?
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 04/06/2019
» Thanks to President Donald Trump’s oft-repeated mantra “America First,” accompanied by his disdain for and hostility towards globalisation and multilateralism, the rest of the world is perplex. Some of them in various continents are getting together in like-minded groups that would be able to respond to the inward-looking US policy, East Asia is no exception. Very few country will be acting alone as the US holds formidable power in the world.
How Jakarta's rise will impact region
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 30/04/2019
» The re-election of Indonesian President Joko Widodo has positive implications for Indonesia and Asean as a whole. The president, popularly known as Jokowi, will have five exciting years to shape Indonesia's future and international profile to his liking. Obviously, with the second term limit, he will be bolder and more assertive, both at home and abroad.
Asean-S Korea ties surging forward
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/04/2019
» South Korea is catching up with China and Japan in developing all-around relations with Asean. Last week's announcement of the third Asean-Korea Summit to be held in Busan from Nov 25-27 together with the first Mekong-Korea Summit is a speed indicator of South Korea's approach to Asean. Under current President Moon Jae-in, South Korean officials have described bilateral relations as going gosog, or high-speed.
South Korea is wooing Asean and India
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/07/2018
» For the first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea, under the helm of President Moon Jae-in, has effectively been embedded in the regional scheme of things --political/security, economic and social/cultural. The country's previous four presidents -- Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye -- tried to do the same but sadly they repeatedly failed. Every time these leaders wanted to focus on Southeast Asia and South Asia, something happened in the Northeast, the Korean Peninsula in particular, that immediately distracted them. They became mesmerised and forgot the region. There was no consistency whatsoever.
Korean thaw will have Asean impact
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 01/05/2018
» It was amazing to watch South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un make their historic handshake and then hug and share smiles on Friday at Panmunjom, the truce village located in the Demilitarised Zone that separates the two Koreas. From now on, the simmering tension on the Korean Peninsula, which the world has become used to over the last 65 years, may quickly fade away. The two Koreas have pledged to cease hostilities and cooperate in their denuclearisation efforts.