The High Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical public service as part of Sri Lanka’s nationwide National Integrity Week initiative.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore joined the commencement of Sri Lanka’s National Integrity Week 2026 by participating in the national initiative, “A Culture of Integrity – A Clean Sri Lanka”, on 27 July.

As part of the observance, the High Commission’s staff read the National Integrity Pledge in both Sinhala and Tamil, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the values of transparency, integrity, accountability, and respect for the rule of law in line with Sri Lanka’s public service principles.

Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the national initiative seeks to strengthen the quality, efficiency, and transparency of the public service while promoting ethical values as the foundation of sustainable national development.

Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Aruni Ranaraja, addressed the gathering at the commencement of National Integrity Week, emphasising that integrity is demonstrated through everyday choices, accountability, fairness, and placing the public interest above personal interests. She also highlighted the Ministry’s role in representing Sri Lanka internationally through diplomacy, foreign employment, tourism, trade, and investment, noting that every interaction undertaken by the Ministry reflects on the country’s reputation.

Sri Lanka’s overseas missions and posts, including the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, participated virtually in the national event, with more than 130 participants supporting the country’s integrity initiative.

Source: High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore

The workshop provided a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on protecting critical infrastructure, enhancing incident response, and strengthening regional cooperation against evolving cyber threats.

The Australian High Commission in Singapore participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on National and Regional Approaches to Incident Management of ICT-Enabled Critical Infrastructure, held in Singapore on 21 July.

Co-organised by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the European External Action Service, the workshop focused on national and regional approaches to incident management affecting ICT-enabled critical infrastructure.

Source: Australian High Commission, Singapore

The ranking highlights Qatar’s labour market efficiency under the Business Efficiency pillar, reinforcing its competitiveness in attracting investment and skilled talent.

Qatar ranked second globally in the Labour Market indicator under the Business Efficiency pillar of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, underscoring the country’s continued efforts to enhance its business environment and workforce competitiveness.

The achievement is significant as labour market efficiency has become an important consideration for global companies when making investment and expansion decisions, providing Qatar with a competitive advantage at both the regional and international levels.

Economic expert Dr. Abdullah Al Khater attributed the ranking to Qatar’s ongoing efforts to develop its labour market through initiatives that improve the working environment, strengthen skills development, support research and education, and align workforce capabilities with evolving market needs.  The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) also noted that the ranking reflects the efficiency, attractiveness, and competitiveness of Qatar’s labour market in attracting skilled professionals. 

The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, published annually by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD), evaluates the competitiveness of economies based on four pillars: Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency, and Infrastructure.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The annual sports festival welcomed the Japanese community in Singapore for a day of friendly competition, community spirit, and intergenerational interaction despite rainy weather.

H.E. Ambassador Ishikawa attended the Japanese Association Sports Festival 2026 at ITE College West on 26 July as Guest of Honour, where he delivered the opening remarks during the opening ceremony. Although the event was suspended twice due to rain, the programme was successfully completed with the participation and cooperation of the Japanese community in Singapore.

Organised by The Japanese Association, Singapore, the annual sports festival featured a variety of games and competitions for participants of all ages. From children to adults, participants enjoyed a variety of games and competitions, and the day was filled with energy and teamwork.

During the event, H.E. Ambassador Ishikawa presented the Special Honour Award to the SJ60 Costume Group in recognition of their handmade costumes.

Source: Embassy of Japan in Singapore, The Japanese Association, Singapore

The forum brought together policymakers, regulators, investors, and industry leaders to discuss financial innovation, regional integration, and sustainable growth.

The 4th ASEAN Forum: The Future of Finance was held at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong, Brunei Darussalam, on 28 July. Organised by Asia Asset Management (AAM) in collaboration with the Brunei Institute of Leadership & Islamic Finance (BILIF), and supported by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), the forum was held under the theme “Innovation, Integration and Growth in an Age of Transition”.

The forum aimed to foster dialogue among policymakers, regulators, institutional investors, and industry leaders on innovative investment strategies, emerging opportunities in Islamic and digital finance, and strengthening ASEAN’s financial ecosystem through greater regional collaboration.

Delivering the keynote address, Brunei’s Minister of Finance II, H.E. Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd. Amin Liew bin Abdullah said the true measure of the financial sector lies not only in the prosperity it creates today, but also in the prosperity it sustains for future generations. He also highlighted Brunei’s commitment to building a trusted and future-ready financial system through initiatives such as the Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2025–2030, the FinTech Regulatory Sandbox, and TARUS.

The forum featured presentations and panel discussions by financial leaders from across the region, including representatives from Baiduri Bank, Affin Bank, Bank of Singapore, Nomura Asset Management, and Hijra Group.

Source: Pelita Brunei

Recognised by National Geographic as one of the world’s best food destinations for 2026, Buon Ma Thuot is gaining international attention for its exceptional coffee culture and authentic culinary experiences.

Buon Ma Thuot is stepping onto the global culinary stage after earning a place among National Geographic‘s 15 Best Food Destinations in the World for 2026. Ranked fourth on the prestigious list, the capital of Dak Lak has outperformed many internationally renowned food destinations, highlighting Vietnam’s growing influence in global gastronomy through its distinctive coffee heritage and local flavours.

Located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, Buon Ma Thuot sits at the heart of the world’s largest robusta-producing region. As climate change continues to affect Arabica production worldwide, the city’s high-quality robusta beans are becoming increasingly valuable to the international coffee industry. Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, supplies more than 70 countries, with the Central Highlands contributing over 40 per cent of the nation’s coffee exports. Experts praise Buon Ma Thuot’s robusta for its rich body, intense aroma, low acidity, and naturally sweet finish.

Beyond production, Buon Ma Thuot has developed a vibrant coffee culture that blends tradition with innovation. Visitors can experience the slow-brewed phin coffee that defines Vietnamese café culture alongside iconic local beverages such as cà phê sữa đá, creamy egg coffee, and the increasingly popular salt coffee. These unique drinks have transformed the city into a destination where travellers can experience Vietnam’s evolving coffee traditions first-hand.

The city’s appeal extends beyond its cafés through attractions such as the World Coffee Museum and Trung Nguyen Coffee Village, where visitors can explore Vietnam’s coffee history, discover traditional brewing methods, and sample premium local blends. As global travellers increasingly seek authentic, sustainable, and culturally rich food experiences, Buon Ma Thuot is establishing itself as more than an agricultural powerhouse—it is becoming one of Asia’s most exciting culinary destinations.

Source:  Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vietnam

The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore commemorated His Majesty the King’s birthday with a series of ceremonial events, bringing together officials and Team ������ to honour the occasion and reaffirm their commitment to serving the nation.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore marked the birthday of His Majesty the King on 28 July 2026 with a series of ceremonial events to pay tribute to the Thai monarch. The occasion reflected the deep respect and loyalty of the Thai community in Singapore while underscoring the importance of public service and national unity.

The commemorative programme featured a royal tribute offering ceremony, a signing ceremony in the book of well-wishes, and a candle lighting ceremony. These traditional observances provided an opportunity for participants to express their heartfelt wishes for His Majesty’s continued good health and well-being.

The event was attended by officials of the Royal Thai Embassy, members of Team ������ in Singapore, and their spouses. Together, they participated in the ceremonies as a demonstration of their loyalty and gratitude to the monarchy, while celebrating one of the Kingdom’s most significant national occasions.

During the candle lighting ceremony, participants also pledged to uphold the values of dedicated public service, reaffirming their commitment to serving as responsible civil servants and contributing to the strength and prosperity of the nation. The ceremony reflected the enduring bond between the Thai monarchy, public institutions, and Thai communities overseas.

The annual observance highlights the Royal Thai Embassy’s continued efforts to preserve Thai traditions abroad while fostering unity among Thai nationals and officials serving overseas. It also serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of the monarchy in inspiring national solidarity and public service.

Source: Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore

Have you ever wondered how a simple combination of cobalt blue and white porcelain became one of China’s most influential cultural exports? Thousand years later, this story continues to shape art, design and global craftsmanship.

Inside Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, in the old imperial kitchens that once fed the Ottoman court, sits one of the largest collections of Chinese porcelain outside China itself: more than 10,000 pieces in total, over 5,000 of them blue-and-white, almost all of it fired in the kilns of a single Chinese town. None of it was made for Turkey. It arrived over centuries as tribute, as trade, as diplomatic gift, and it simply never left. Versions of that same story sit in a stately home in England, a museum in Singapore, an antique gallery in Hong Kong. Walk into enough grand rooms around the world and eventually you’ll find the same pairing: cobalt blue against brilliant white. Blue-and-white porcelain crossed continents long before passports existed, riding merchant ships that linked China to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Along the way, it became one of history’s first truly global luxury goods: it shaped Dutch Delftware and Japanese Arita ware, inspired Ottoman Iznik ceramics, and left its mark on European interiors and dining tables alike. Few objects have travelled so far while staying so unmistakably Chinese.

The story starts with an experiment nobody much liked at the time. In the ninth century, Tang-dynasty kilns at Gongyi in Henan began mixing local clay with cobalt pigment imported from the Abbasid world, making pieces for Middle Eastern buyers who wanted something no one else could offer. Back home in China, it didn’t catch on, and the style all but disappeared for centuries. It took the Yuan dynasty, and Persian cobalt in the hands of Jingdezhen’s potters, to turn that early experiment into mastery. Then came the Ming dynasty, and porcelain hit its golden age under the Yongle and Xuande emperors: rich sapphire-blue tones, and a “heaping-and-piling” effect where the imported cobalt, slightly impure, pooled and darkened under the glaze into something that became a signature rather than a flaw. The Qing dynasty pushed the craft further still. Under the Kangxi emperor, painters worked out fenshui, or “water separation”, precise enough to coax five distinct shades of blue out of a single pigment. It’s a technique practised and admired to this day.

Every road in this story leads back to Jingdezhen, in Jiangxi Province. China’s “Porcelain Capital” has been firing kilns for more than a thousand years, built on rich deposits of kaolin clay and porcelain stone, with a river network that once carried its wares out to the rest of the country and the world. It supplied emperors, met overseas demand, and produced techniques that were copied everywhere from Delft to Iznik but never quite equalled. On 25 July 2026, that history was formally recognised, when the Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. UNESCO’s citation didn’t treat the city as a museum piece: it recognised a living cultural landscape, its ancient kilns, workshops, mining sites and waterways all remaining in active use. China has other celebrated ceramic centres too, including Dehua in Fujian for its pale Blanc de Chine, Longquan in Zhejiang for celadon, and Yixing in Jiangsu for its purple-clay teapots, but for blue-and-white, Jingdezhen has no real rival.

Ask anyone in Jingdezhen what the city’s greatest treasure is, though, and porcelain is only half the answer. The other half is its people. Making a single piece takes patience on a scale most of us have forgotten how to practise: kaolin clay and porcelain stone, refined and shaped by hand, before an artist paints a freehand design in cobalt oxide directly onto the unfired body. Glaze goes on next, then the kiln — temperatures past 1,300°C, hot enough that the dull grey pigment underneath turns, almost like a trick, into the vivid blue collectors have chased for centuries. Every motif carries meaning, too. A dragon means imperial authority. A lotus means purity, a peony prosperity. Pine, bamboo and plum together form the “Three Friends of Winter,” an old symbol of resilience and integrity. None of it is just decoration — it’s Chinese philosophy, painted in cobalt. And in Jingdezhen, much of this knowledge travels the oldest way there is: many workshops remain family-run, skills handed from grandparent to grandchild, one generation teaching the next to hold the brush.

Few artisans shaped modern Chinese ceramics more than Wang Xiliang (1922–2023), one of the first ceramicists in China to earn the national title of Ceramic Art Master. Born and raised in Jingdezhen, he treated blue-and-white porcelain the way a painter treats canvas, covering it in sweeping mountain landscapes whose brushwork earned him admirers well beyond China. His pieces sit today in museums and private collections, and his influence carries through the work of ceramic artists who came after him — among them Professor Ning Gang, President of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, who carries that legacy forward alongside thousands of contemporary makers mixing old craft with new ideas. On weekends at Taoxichuan Creative District — a former state porcelain factory turned into one of China’s liveliest creative hubs — young ceramicists known locally as “Jingpiao” set up and sell their work straight to the people walking through. Old tradition, new buyers, barely any gap between them: proof enough that blue-and-white porcelain isn’t finished yet.

That energy at Taoxichuan is part of something bigger happening across China. Guochao, or “China chic,” has given younger generations the confidence to embrace traditional aesthetics on their own terms, and blue-and-white motifs are turning up in places they never used to — on fashion runways, in jewellery, across luxury hotel lobbies, boutique cafés, premium packaging, contemporary interiors. Designers are reworking imperial patterns for modern homes; international hospitality brands are commissioning Jingdezhen artisans directly, for hotels and restaurants that want something no factory catalogue can offer. Blue-and-white porcelain didn’t have to fight modern design for a place at the table. It simply became part of the table — heritage that evolved without losing itself.

For anyone who wants to see all this firsthand, Jingdezhen itself is still the best place to start. The Jingdezhen Ceramic Museum and the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Museum walk you through the city’s shift from imperial production centre to living cultural capital, and Taoxichuan Creative Market is where you actually meet the artists and buy from them directly. Serious collectors tend to end up in Hong Kong, where Sotheby’s, Christie’s and the dealers along Hollywood Road remain the centre of gravity for Chinese ceramics; Beijing and Shanghai have respected antique markets of their own, though experts are consistent on one point — chase documented provenance, not reign marks, since the best reproductions of Ming and Qing pieces are good enough to fool almost anyone. Beyond China, the fullest collections sit in Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum, Beijing’s Palace Museum, the Shanghai Museum, Taipei’s National Palace Museum, and London’s British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum — each holding a different chapter of porcelain’s journey across the world.

For Singapore, none of this is a story about somewhere else. Earlier this year, archaeologists confirmed that the Temasek Wreck, sitting in Singapore’s own waters, holds the largest cargo of Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white porcelain ever recovered from a single shipwreck. It dates to the mid-fourteenth century — evidence that Temasek was already a serious international trading port, moving Chinese ceramics through regional networks centuries before modern Singapore existed. That thread hasn’t broken. Contemporary collaborations like Singapore Blue still work directly with Jingdezhen artisans today, a sign that the Singapore and China relationship is tied together by porcelain that hasn’t cooled off in over six centuries.

None of this fascination is cooling off, either. The celebrated Chenghua “Chicken Cup” still holds the record as the most expensive Chinese porcelain ever sold at auction, and imperial pieces from the Yongle, Xuande and Kangxi periods keep commanding extraordinary prices at every major sale. Collectors are paying for more than rarity — for craftsmanship, provenance, the quality of the cobalt itself, and whatever story a given piece can still tell. But the real achievement of blue-and-white porcelain was never about auction records. It’s one of the earliest working examples of cultural diplomacy there is: proof that art can travel further than armies, and that a good idea, carried in the right hands, can do more than politics or commerce ever could alone. More than a thousand years after the first cobalt brushstroke met white clay, that’s still true. Dynasties have risen and fallen since. Ships carrying it have gone down to the bottom of the sea, only to resurface centuries later, off the coast of a country that didn’t exist yet when they sank. And on any given weekend in Taoxichuan, someone is still buying a piece straight from the hands that made it — recognisably the same idea, still stopping people in their tracks.

Sources & References:
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites”
• Topkapi Palace Museum
• People’s Daily reports on the UNESCO inscription of Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites

Written by Charoline Charity Chandra

Twenty-three Junior Fellows have begun a four-week attachment programme at the ASEAN Secretariat, gaining first-hand experience of regional cooperation through mentorship, diplomatic engagement, and institutional learning. Supported by Brunei Darussalam and Japan, the initiative aims to nurture the next generation of ASEAN leaders.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, officially inaugurated the Fifth ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme (AJFP) during an opening ceremony held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The four-week programme, which runs from 27 July to 21 August 2026, brings together 23 Junior Fellows for an immersive learning experience designed to deepen their understanding of ASEAN’s institutions, regional cooperation, and policymaking processes.

Generously supported by the Governments of Brunei Darussalam and Japan, the AJFP reflects ASEAN’s continued commitment to investing in young professionals and future leaders. By providing participants with practical exposure to the work of the ASEAN Secretariat, the programme seeks to strengthen regional capacity and cultivate a new generation of individuals equipped to contribute to ASEAN’s long-term development and integration.

Throughout the programme, the Junior Fellows will be attached to various divisions within the ASEAN Secretariat, allowing them to gain valuable insights into the organisation’s day-to-day operations and policy priorities. In addition to their institutional attachments, participants will engage with the diplomatic community in Jakarta, interact with ASEAN-associated entities, and take part in a range of activities that highlight the importance of collaboration across the region.

The fellowship also provides a unique platform for participants to develop professional networks while broadening their understanding of ASEAN’s role in addressing regional challenges and advancing shared aspirations. Through direct engagement with policymakers, diplomats, and regional stakeholders, the fellows will gain a comprehensive appreciation of ASEAN’s cooperative framework and its impact on the lives of more than 680 million people across Southeast Asia.

As ASEAN continues to strengthen regional integration and resilience, initiatives such as the ASEAN Junior Fellowship Programme play an important role in fostering leadership, enhancing institutional knowledge, and inspiring greater commitment to regional cooperation. The continued support of Brunei Darussalam and Japan underscores the value of partnerships in building a capable and forward-looking ASEAN community.

Source: ASEAN

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn met with ERIA President Professor Tetsuya Watanabe at the ASEAN Headquarters to discuss strengthening collaboration in support of the region’s economic integration agenda. Their discussions focused on key priorities, including energy resilience and the digital economy.

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn today welcomed the President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Professor Tetsuya Watanabe, to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat for a high-level discussion on advancing regional economic cooperation. The meeting reaffirmed the close partnership between ASEAN and ERIA in supporting the region’s long-term development and integration goals.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on ongoing collaboration aimed at strengthening ASEAN’s economic integration priorities. Particular attention was given to enhancing energy resilience and accelerating the development of the digital economy, two strategic areas that are increasingly important to the region’s sustainable growth and competitiveness.

The discussions also underscored the value of evidence-based research and policy support in helping ASEAN respond to emerging regional and global challenges. As one of ASEAN’s key knowledge partners, ERIA continues to contribute research, policy recommendations and technical expertise that support the implementation of the Association’s economic agenda.

The engagement reflected the shared commitment of ASEAN and ERIA to fostering deeper regional cooperation and promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable economic development. By strengthening collaboration across priority sectors, both organisations aim to help ASEAN remain adaptable and competitive in an evolving global landscape.

The meeting further reinforced the enduring partnership between the ASEAN Secretariat and ERIA, highlighting their collective efforts to support ASEAN Member States in advancing regional integration and delivering tangible benefits to the people of Southeast Asia.

Source: ASEAN