VIENTIANE -- 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.
Major-General Yang Wenlin, deputy commander of the 75th Group Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, said the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2023 joint exercise serves as a platform for exchanging experiences between the two militaries, as well as a concrete measure to deepen friendship and boost cooperation between the two countries. (Laos-China-Joint Military Exercise)
- - - -
MACAO -- A summit on talent development was held on Thursday in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to discuss building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) into a "window of talent."
Over 200 delegates, including business executives, scholars and diplomats, exchanged views on the impacts of science and technology on talent nurturing and planning, quality development and cooperation on digital service trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as in-depth exchanges of finance and insurance talent in GBA. (Macao-Talent Summit)
- - - -
LABUAN BAJO -- To facilitate regional economic integration, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made a declaration on advancing regional payment connectivity and promoting local currency transaction on Wednesday during the two-day ASEAN Summit.
This year's 42nd ASEAN Summit under Indonesia's chairmanship is themed "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth," held from May 9 to 11 in the Indonesian town of Labuan Bajo. (ASEAN Summit-Regional Payment-Local Currency)
- - - -
YANGON -- Spicy, mouth-numbing Chinese foods or foods with mala flavor are the latest Chinese food crazes hitting Myanmar, local restaurateurs said.
Nay Yi Win, a restaurant owner in her 20s, said that the number of mala food consumers in Myanmar is increasing in the commercial city of Yangon as well as elsewhere Myanmar in recent years. (Myanmar-China-Spicy Food)