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A man receives the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at Samut Sakhon hospital in Samut Sakhon province (Photo: Reuters) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand reported 70 new COVID-9 cases, including 62 domestic infections on February 28, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Of the domestic cases, 49 were recorded in the outbreak in Samut Sakhon. No new infections were confirmed in Bangkok. The same day, Thailand started its COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, with the first shot, using China's Sinovac vaccine, going to Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Thailand has so far recorded 25,951 COVID-19 cases, including 23,181 domestic infections and 2,770 imported cases. A total of 25,128 patients have recovered, while 740 others are still being treated at hospitals. The death toll stands at 83. Meanwhile, the Philippines found 2,113 more COVID infections on the same day, lifting its national count to 576,352. The number of … [Read more...] about Thailand, Philippines confirm many new COVID-19 cases

CoronaVac is developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand kicked off its COVID-19 inoculation campaign on February 28, with cabinet ministers, health officials and medical professionals among the first in the queue to receive vaccinations. The first doses of vaccine, developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, were given to Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the health minister, among others at an infectious diseases institute on the outskirts of Bangkok. Anutin Charnvirakuk hoped that the vaccination will result in people being safe from the spread of COVID-19 and it allows Thailand to return to normal as soon as possible. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, 66, attended the event, although his age falls outside the range of 18 to 59 suitable to receive Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine, so he did not get it. Thailand received its first 200,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine from China, which have been distributed to 13 … [Read more...] about Thailand begins COVID-19 vaccinations

As a leading financial newspaper run by Japanese media giants Nikkei Inc., Nikkei Asia have stated that, “Southeast Asia's growth leader in 2021 may well be Vietnam”, during a recent article detailing ASEAN's GDP forecasts for the year ahead. According to Nikkei, the country recorded economic growth of 2.9% last year due to its success in containing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to the robust exports of electronics and other consumer products, with the nation reportedly targeting a growth rate of 6.5% this year. The Japanese media also quote a report produced by Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics, who notes that Vietnamese exports should continue to be supported by tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese goods. "To avoid US tariffs, importers have shifted demand from China to alternative suppliers. With US-China relations likely to remain strained over the years ahead, this trend is likely to continue,” Leather noted. … [Read more...] about Nikkei Asia: Vietnam will be Southeast Asian growth leader in 2021

At the launch of the “Empowering women for sustainable peace: preventing violence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN” (Photo: asean.org) Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Canada and UN Women recently launched a five-year programme to expand and strengthen women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention, resolution and recovery in Southeast Asia. The 8.5 million CAD (6.36 million USD) programme, “Empowering women for sustainable peace: preventing violence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN”, is funded by Global Affairs Canada to support ASEAN and the implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action 2021-2025, with the support of UN Women as a lead UN partner. “ Canada is proud to launch this flagship initiative that uses the women, peace and security approach to promote inclusive and sustainable peace and security in the region, while addressing the systemic gender inequality,” said Diedrah Kelly, Canada’s … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Canada, UN Women advance women’s role in conflict prevention

Participants join the workshop (Photo: asean.org) Jakarta (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has held a workshop on the Development Prospects for the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation (DPAMC) and Scoping Study of the ASEAN Minerals Database and Information System (AMDIS), aiming to promote regional minerals cooperation. During the two-day workshop, participants discussed the initial findings and recommendations from the drafts of the DPAMC Study and the AMDIS Scoping Report under the “Strengthening ASEAN Cooperation in Minerals” project. The DPAMC Study will stock-take existing ASEAN minerals development and cooperation in the context of global markets and minerals industry, and propose corresponding regional strategies and measures. The study’s recommendations are expected to help define the future direction of ASEAN minerals cooperation and will be considered in the development of Phase 2 (2021-2025) of the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan. … [Read more...] about ASEAN seeks to strengthen minerals cooperation