China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the urgency of regional cooperation to combat cross-border crimes. Wang?highlighted recent joint operations between China, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, which resulted in the arrest of over 50,000 individuals involved in gambling and fraud. ?

Wang called for stronger border controls, improved intelligence sharing, and continued joint efforts to apprehend and repatriate criminals. He emphasised that sustained regional stability depends on consistent cooperation among neighbouring countries.  

According to a report by Global Times, Chinese experts have praised Wang’s proposal, noting that it reflects China’s strategic approach to fostering long-term regional stability through practical cooperation. The Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, reinforced this commitment, with leaders from six countries issuing a joint statement to combat cross-border crimes. Chinese observers underscored the importance of collective efforts in addressing the spillover effects of crimes like drug trafficking and smuggling, which threaten both regional and global security.?

Last week, Wang met with Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw, focusing on enhancing cooperation to combat cross-border crimes, particularly online gambling and telecom fraud. Min emphasised Myanmar’s commitment to China as a trustworthy neighbour and expressed his willingness to strengthen ties, especially in law enforcement. He underscored the importance of collaboration in securing both nations’ interests, particularly in cracking down on activities that threaten regional stability. 

Min reiterated Myanmar’s support for China’s sovereignty and the one-China principle. The discussion also covered advancing Belt and Road cooperation, with both leaders expressing a desire to strengthen partnerships in various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, and energy. ?

Wang, meanwhile, reaffirmed China’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, emphasising non-interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs. He praised the resilience of China-Myanmar relations, which have weathered the evolving international landscape.  

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo reportedly left the Philippines in July, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. During a Senate plenary session, Hontiveros revealed that Guo had departed the country and was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by July 18.  

The senator stated that Guo used her Philippine passport to exit the country and later travelled to Singapore to reunite with her family, who had flown in from China. Hontiveros expressed outrage, questioning how Guo managed to leave despite assurances from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that she would be barred from departing the country.  

Earlier, the Philippines’ Office of the Ombudsman ousted Guo from her mayoral post. According to the Ombudsman’s probe, Guo’s connections to Baofu Land Development Inc., which controlled the property housing the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations, persisted even after she assumed the mayoral office in 2022. ??

Following Hontiveros’ revelations, Senator Raffy Tulfo echoed concerns about the possibility that Guo left the country on a chartered plane. Tulfo highlighted the lack of adequate processing centres for passengers of private aircraft, noting that these individuals could bypass standard immigration procedures. He emphasised the need to trace any chartered or private planes that left the country on the day of Guo’s departure and to identify the customs, immigration, and quarantine officials on duty at that time.   

In a related development, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco disclosed that intelligence reports indicated Guo left the Philippines without passing through immigration controls. Tansingco confirmed that Guo had flown to Malaysia and subsequently to Singapore. He noted that although Guo’s name was listed on the Department of Justice’s immigration lookout bulletin, her departure was not recorded in the BI’s system, raising concerns about potential lapses in monitoring informal exit points managed by other aviation or maritime agencies.  

Amid these conflicting reports, Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, maintained that she was still in the Philippines. David stated that he spoke with Guo online on Sunday, and she assured him that she had not left the country. He added that Guo had recently sworn under oath before a notary public in Bulacan, further affirming her presence in the Philippines. David acknowledged the potential legal repercussions if the notarization was conducted without Guo’s physical presence and pledged to follow up on Senator Hontiveros’ claims.  

The controversy surrounding Guo’s whereabouts has left many questions unanswered. While senators continue to probe the circumstances of her reported departure, the BI faces scrutiny over its failure to track her movements. As investigations proceed, the truth behind Guo’s location and the implications for Philippine law enforcement and immigration protocols remain in the spotlight.?

Looking back to one of the Philippines’ largest events this year, Maria Margarita “Marga” Nograles, the Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), warmly welcomed the delegates of the SiGMA Asia Summit 2024 as she described the Philippines as a “treasure trove of experiences”.

Nograles talked about the beauty of her country during her speech last 4 June, during day one of the summit at SMX Convention Center, Manila. She discussed the importance of creating impactful tourist experiences in the Philippines.

The Philippines is home not only to 7,641 islands with renowned beaches and clear waters but also to a rich cultural heritage and delicious cuisine that caters to all types of travellers. The Southeast Asian country also caters to various interests, from luxurious adventures, relaxation, gaming, and many other entertainment activities, all infused with Filipino hospitality.

The TPB plays a big role in marketing and promoting the Philippines as a premier destination for leisure, meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) and investment by collaborating with various sectors to create customised packages catering to different interests.

Nograles also emphasised TPB’s commitment to empowering its members by providing the latest market intelligence and access to major tourism events, particularly in their 13 key markets, including South Korea, Japan, China, and Australia, which have consistently generated about 100,000 tourist arrivals over the past two years.

As evidence of its hard work and dedication, the SiGMA Asia 2024 was also promoted by TPB, which resulted in a successful event enjoyed by about 17,000 attendees from different parts of the world.

Recognising the importance of technology in tourism, the TPB launched the enhanced Travel Philippines app. This app empowers tourists to discover destinations, curate personalised itineraries, and connect with accredited hotels and tour guides.

Nograles’ speech concluded with a powerful message, echoing Philippine President Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr.’s words about the Philippines offering world-class talent and creativity. Nograles assured tourists that the Philippines is committed to creating experiences that matter.

SiGMA Asia has announced that the summit will be back in Manila on 1-4 June 2025 to showcase more interactive learning and unparalleled networking experiences.

Join us at SiGMA East Europe in Budapest from 2-4 September powered by Soft2Bet. Click here for all the event details and updates.

AGTech Holdings Limited, a lottery and integrated technology company, has received the green light from Macau regulators to attain a controlling stake in Ant Bank (Macao) Limited. In a press release, AGTech confirmed the regulatory approval for its acquisition through a share transfer and capital injection, positioning the company as the majority shareholder of Ant Bank.  

AGTech emphasised that the transaction will be completed once all closing conditions in the share transfer agreement have been fulfilled or waived. “The said completion will take place after all the closing conditions have been fulfilled, after which Ant Bank will become an indirect non-wholly owned subsidiary of AGTech,” the company stated.  

The deal, valued at MOP243 million (€27.5 million), was first disclosed in February 2024. AGTech announced that it would acquire existing shares and subscribe to new shares, raising its stake in Ant Bank to 51.5 percent. This marks a strategic alignment with AGTech’s vision to bolster digital financial services in Macau and the Greater Bay Area. Once completed, Ant Bank will be integrated into AGTech’s financial statements as a non-wholly owned subsidiary.  

“The Transaction aligns with AGTech’s strategy to support the digital transformation of financial services in Macau and the Greater Bay Area,” the company added.    

AGTech plans to leverage synergies between its electronic payment services and Ant Bank’s digital banking solutions. This collaboration will connect digital banking with AGTech’s ecosystem, integrating services like payments and inclusive finance to cater to Macau’s residents and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The move also aims to attract cross-border tourists to Macau, aligning with the city’s tourism-driven economy.  

“With synergies from Alibaba Group, Ant Group’s resources, and AGTech’s business units in life services and e-commerce, we aim to create unique cross-border financial services,” AGTech commented. These efforts are designed to diversify the company’s revenue streams and promote economic growth in Macau.  

Ant Bank, a key player in Macau’s digital banking and payment sector, provides services such as deposits, loans, and cross-border remittances. Through this acquisition, AGTech will expand its business scope, moving beyond digital payment services into digital financial services.?