Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

NIIGATA, Japan (AP) — The Group of Seven’s top financial leaders united Saturday in their support for Ukraine and their determination to enforce sanctions against Russia for its aggression but stopped short of any overt mention of China.

The finance ministers and central bank chiefs ended three days of talks in Niigata, Japan, with a joint statement pledging to bring inflation under control, help countries struggling with onerous debts and strengthen financial systems.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia is on track to achieve its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of between 4 and 5.0 per cent this year, said central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said the growth would be anchored by firm domestic demand amid a challenging global environment.

“Risks to the growth outlook are fairly balanced.

NIIGATA, Japan, May 12 (Reuters) - Finance leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies discussed the need to make global supply chains more resilient by reducing over-reliance on China, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Friday.

Japan, which is hosting a three-day G7 meeting to debate key global themes in the city of Niigata, has been leading fresh efforts to diversify supply chains away from China by building partnerships with low- and middle-income countries through investment and aid.

VIENTIANE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- China and Laos launched a joint military exercise on Thursday at the Kommadam Academy of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) in Laos, aimed at enhancing capabilities of the two militaries to combat terrorism.

BANGKOK (AP) — Voters disaffected by nine years of plodding rule by a coup-making army general are expected to deliver a strong mandate for change in Thailand’s general election Sunday. But a predicted victory by the allies of Thaksin Shinawatra, whose ouster by coup 17 years ago plunged the country into prolonged instability, has caused concern for an unhindered democratic transition.

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia, May 11 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), demonstrated its confidence in becoming the world’s new economic powerhouse, reflected at a summit held this week in the Indonesian town of Labuan Bajo.

This year’s 42nd ASEAN Summit, under Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship, is themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”

SEOUL, May 11 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s export fell in double digits, in the first 10 days of May, due to the continued weakness in global demand for locally-made products, customs office data showed today.

Export amounted to 14.48 billion U.S. dollars, during the May 1-10 period, down 10.1 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.

The outbound shipment kept sliding for the seventh consecutive month through Apr.

BEIJING (AP) — Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell visited China on Thursday as part of a joint effort to repair ties scarred by political rifts over the past decade.

In a statement issued by his office, Farrell said he would be “advocating strongly for the full resumption of unimpeded Australian exports to China.”

China is Australia’s biggest trading partner, with two-way exchanges totaling $287 billion in 2022. China recently resumed imports of coal, cotton and copper from Australia after a lengthy unannounced trade embargo.

NIIGATA, Japan (AP) — The financial leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations meet in Japan beginning Thursday as a standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling and potential default looms as one of the biggest potential threats to the global economy, along with the war in Ukraine.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said one of her priorities in Niigata, a port city on the Japan Sea coast, is to emphasize the importance of resolving the standoff over the national debt in the world’s largest economy.

BEIJING, May 10 (APP):Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community and the Afghan people’s well-being should receive due attention.