Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, June 18-Xinhua

Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, June 18

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-06-19 00:01:30

CHUMPHON, Thailand -- A durian festival celebration was held on Wednesday in Thailand's southern Chumphon province, aiming to showcase the quality of Thai durian and promote more high-quality agricultural products to enter the Chinese market.

During the event, including a durian harvesting, durian, mangosteen and other agricultural product exhibitions, Governor of Chumphon province Thienchai Chukittiwiboon cut a durian with a knife at Chumphon's durian orchard, marking the start of the 2025 Chumphon durian harvest season. (Thailand-Durian Festival-China)

- - - -

BANGKOK -- Thailand's industrial confidence declined for a third consecutive month in May due to signs of fewer orders from foreign partners and border tensions that weakened short-term trade sentiment, data showed on Wednesday.

The Thai industries sentiment index dropped to 88.1 last month from 89.9 in April as most components of the index decreased, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). (Thailand-Industrial Confidence)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Nippon Steel announced Wednesday that it has officially completed its acquisition of U.S. Steel, making the American steelmaker a wholly owned subsidiary.

Nippon Steel purchased 100 percent of U.S. Steel shares at 55 U.S. dollars per share. As a result, U.S. Steel has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and will now operate under Nippon Steel North America. (Japan-U.S. Steel-Acquisition)

- - - -

HANOI -- Vietnam's newly merged city comprising Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is expected to become an international megacity in Southeast Asia, the Vietnam News Agency quoted General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam as saying on Wednesday.

Speaking at a high-level working session in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, Lam said the merger has brought together the country's three most dynamic economic regions with strategic strengths in finance, high-tech industry and seaport logistics, the state-owned media reported. (Vietnam-Newly Merged City)

- - - -

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said here on Wednesday that the country has been prioritizing the digitalization of its economy to yield economic benefits, efficiency, transparency as well as promote entrepreneurial innovation.

"Digital economy is among Pakistan's top reform priorities, and in the recently announced federal budget, a number of initiatives have been launched for the promotion of cashless economy," Sharif said while chairing a high-level meeting on digitalization. (Pakistan-Economy-Digitalization)