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ASEAN-China Week 2025 Opens in Fuzhou: Bridging ASEAN 2045 & Chinese Modernization
Over 400 attendees included more than 30 ASEAN and international organization officials at or above the vice-ministerial level—such as H.E. Senator Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, President of the Senate of Malaysia; H.E. Datuk Nur Jazlan bin Tan Sri Mohamed, Deputy President of the Senate of Malaysia; H.E. Yorrys Raweyai, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia; H.E. Ko Ko Hlaing, Union Minister of Ministry (2) of the President’s Office, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; H.E. Johariah Wahab, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Chuon Chivin, Secretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Kingdom of Cambodia; H.E. Phongsavanh Sisoulath, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand; H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN; and H.E. Zhang Jun, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia; and Chinese representatives including H.E. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee; H.E. Zhao Long, Governor of Fujian Provincial People’s Government; H.E. Guo Ningning, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; H.E. Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association; and officials from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Ministry of Natural Resources. H.E. Shi Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Centre, delivered the opening remarks and moderated the keynote speeches.
H.E. Shi Zhongjun stressed that the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 is highly compatible with the aspirations of Chinese modernization. The event aims to promote deeper strategic alignment, uphold openness and integration, strengthen innovation-driven development, foster mutual learning in governance, and expand people-to-people exchanges, thereby consolidating the comprehensive strategic partnership and contributing to an even closer community with a shared future.
H.E. Zhou Zuyi stated that Fujian will thoroughly implement President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative; Fujian will also step up cooperation with ASEAN in infrastructure, mechanism and regulatory alignment, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Together, they will work to make new contributions to bridging ASEAN 2045 and Chinese modernization.
H.E. Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah noted that amid today’s complex international landscape, ASEAN and China should champion the Bandung Spirit and Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness to bring greater stability and certainty to the region. The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 resonates strongly with the aspirations of Chinese modernization—both prioritize innovation, connectivity, and people-centred development. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 demonstrates the two sides’ shared commitment to equitable sharing of cooperation outcomes, inclusive growth, and narrowing development gaps. He called for greater strategic alignment and wider collaboration in areas such as the digital economy, green technology, artificial intelligence, and the blue economy to build, through concrete actions, the China-ASEAN community with a shared future envisioned by President Xi Jinping and create a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home for all peoples.
H.E. Yorrys Raweyai said ASEAN is working to build Vision 2045 around community building and inter-state connectivity, which cannot be realized without open cooperation with China and other partners. He praised the timely relevance of the event’s theme, saying it will help ASEAN and China forge consensus on their shared modernization aspirations. He expressed hope that the event would continue in future years to further strengthen strategic alignment and set an example for relations between countries and regions worldwide.
H.E. Ko Ko Hlaing remarked that Chinese modernization offers valuable experience and broad opportunities for the realization of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. He emphasized the need for both sides to deepen collaboration in areas such as the digital economy and technological innovation, industrial and supply chain connectivity, the blue economy, and people-to-people exchanges.
At the opening ceremony, senior representatives from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, the Boao Forum for Asia, and relevant Chinese counterparts delivered a series of keynote speeches. On the same day, the “Report on ASEAN-China Trade and Investment Cooperation” and the joint initiative of a China-ASEAN Digital Culture IP Database were released, and cross-border operations of the China-ASEAN Seafood Exchange were launched.
The ASEAN-China Week was initiated in Fuzhou three years ago to promote comprehensive public awareness of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership. During the edition, a series of parallel forums and activities will be held, including the ASEAN-China High-Level Thematic Dialogues, the ASEAN-China Youth Roundtable on Marine Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Opportunities Matchmaking Conference, the Media and Think Tank Salon, and the awards ceremony for the Silk Road International Youth Photography and Short Video Competition.
Hashtag: #ASEAN
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Asia Coach Group Partners with Veteran Business Consultant Rick Tam to Launch “Business Breakthrough” Programme for Hong Kong SMEs
Challenging Business Environment Demands New Solutions
Hong Kong’s SMEs are facing unprecedented operational pressures. According to a survey by CPA Australia, 37% of small businesses in Hong Kong struggle to obtain external financing. Data from Airwallex further reveals that 96% of SMEs have experienced cash flow difficulties in the past year. With property asset values declining, banks’ insistence on property collateral for loans has left many enterprises in financial distress.
Responding to Market Needs with Systematic Business Upgrade Solutions
“Hong Kong has never lacked capital—what’s missing is the mechanism to connect businesses with it,” Rick Tam noted. The programme addresses common pain points faced by local SMEs, including declining profits, low business valuations, tight cash flow, and recruitment challenges. Built upon the four-pillar framework of “Commerce, Strategy, Breakthrough, and Structure,” the curriculum covers stabilising cash flow and enhancing financial flexibility, repositioning businesses and improving client quality, reshaping product value and expanding profit margins, as well as systematising operations and attracting investors. The programme commits to helping participants improve cash flow, increase business value, and strengthen their business models within 90 days.
Four Practical Tools for Immediate Application
Participants will acquire four core tools: the “Cash Flow Vortex System” for rapid assessment of financial status and establishing safety buffers; the “A.T.C. Client Leverage Ladder” for repositioning and enhancing client value; the “High-Value Breakthrough Method” for creating products with greater value and trust; and the “Marketing Triangle Matrix” for integrating human resources, client bases, and operational systems to plan business expansion. The programme adopts a six-step progressive model—from restructuring business models, improving profit margins, attracting capital injection, building high-performance teams, and systematising operations, to ultimately helping business owners reclaim their time and freedom.
Instructor Credentials
Programme instructor Rick Tam is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong’s Business School and currently serves as CEO of two family offices and chief consultant to several others. He holds the CFPCM Certified Financial Planner designation. Tam has founded more than nine brands spanning wealth management, securities, and food and beverage sectors, and has guided over 1,000 participants through business expansion.
As Hong Kong’s economy seeks transformation, channelling capital precisely into the real economy through the “Business Breakthrough” approach offers more than a lifeline for SMEs—it injects vital momentum into Hong Kong’s long-term economic development.
Hashtag: #RickTam #AsiaCoach
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Zuellig Pharma Strengthens Consumer Healthcare Portfolio with the Acquisition of Zam-Buk® and Vapex® Brands from Bayer
Zam-Buk® is an ointment used for the temporary relief of pain and itch, including discomfort from insect bites. First launched in 1902, Zam-Buk® has retained strong brand equity over the decades and is widely perceived as a trusted household brand. Vapex® is a nasal inhaler used to help relieve nasal congestion. Launched in 1917, Vapex® has built meaningful brand recognition, particularly in Thailand.
The acquisition of the brands supports Zuellig Pharma’s strategic priority to strengthen and scale its consumer healthcare portfolio across Asia. It also marks the company’s second consumer healthcare acquisition, following Propan in the Philippines, reinforcing its focus on building a strong commercial platform for trusted, everyday healthcare products in the region.
Hashtag: #ZuelligPharma #ConsumerHealthcare #ConsumerHealth #Healthcare #Pharmaceuticals #Zambuk #Vapex #Bayer
https://www.zuelligpharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/zuellig-pharma
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Zuellig Pharma
Zuellig Pharma is a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia, and our purpose is to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve. We provide world-class distribution, commercialization, and clinical trial support services, underpinned by a strong culture of innovation to support the growing healthcare needs in this region. The company was founded a hundred years ago and has grown to become a multibillion-dollar business covering 18 markets with over 12,000 employees. Our people serve more than 200,000 medical facilities and work with over 450 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.
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International Entertainment Corporation to Hold EGM on 26 February 2026 for Proposed Convertible Notes Issuance
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., named as one of the Fortune Southeast Asia 500, together with its subsidiaries, is an innovative digital entertainment group in the Philippines and is a leader in the casinos and gaming industry. On 17 November 2025, the Company entered into the Subscription Agreement with the Subscriber, pursuant to which the Company conditionally agreed to issue and the Subscriber conditionally agreed to subscribe for the Notes in two tranches with a maturity of five years and an interest rate of 3% per annum.
Upon full conversion of the Notes at the initial Conversion Price, a total of 1,600,000,000 Shares will be issued by the Company, representing approximately 53.89% of the issued share capital of the Company as enlarged by the issue and allotment of the Conversion Shares. As such, the Subscriber will be obliged to make a mandatory general offer pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeovers Code, unless the Whitewash Waiver is granted and approved.
The initial Conversion Price of HK$1.00 per Conversion Share represents a discount of approximately 3.85% to the closing price of HK$1.04 per Share as quoted on the Stock Exchange on the Latest Practicable Date (6 February 2026).
The board of Directors (the “Board“) believes that the Subscription would be beneficial to improving and strengthening the Group’s liquidity and financial position on a longer-term basis. In the event that the Subscriber converts part or the full amount of the Notes into the Conversion Shares, it will also broaden the shareholder and capital base of the Company. The Group intends to apply part of the net proceeds raised from the issuance of the Notes of approximately HK$489.22 million for the early repayment of the Promissory Notes and interest accrued thereon (the “PN Repayment“), and approximately HK$392.39 million to early repay the Secured Bank Borrowing to achieve immediate interest savings.
The remaining net proceeds will primarily be used for funding the Investment Commitment and attractive investment/business opportunity(ies); and as general working capital of the Group. The Investment Commitment is currently expected to include capital investments for acquisition of land for the expansion of the Group’s integrated resort in Manila City in the Philippines (the ”Hotel”) and the construction of additional hotel rooms, for provision of other amenities of the integrated resort, and for ongoing upgrades, refurbishments and renovations to the facilities and infrastructures of both the Hotel and the Group’s existing casino (the “Casino“).
The Independent Board Committee, which comprises all the independent non-executive Directors, is of the opinion that (i) the terms of the Subscription Agreement are on normal commercial terms, and the terms of the Subscription, the Whitewash Waiver and the Special Deal (the PN Repayment to the PN Holder) are fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned; and (ii) the Subscription, the Whitewash Waiver and the Special Deal are in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole and as far as the Independent Shareholders are concerned. It, therefore, recommends the Independent Shareholders to vote in favour of the relevant resolution(s) to be proposed at the EGM.
Hashtag: #InternationalEntertainmentCorporation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About International Entertainment Corporation (HKEX: 1009)
International Entertainment Corporation is an investment holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries are principally involved in hotel operations, operating the gaming business under provisional licence and leasing of gaming venues at the hotel complex of the Group in Metro Manila in the Republic of the Philippines to a tenant for authorized gaming operation and live poker events in Macau.
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