( Source: Xinhua )

01. FM to attend two meetings over China-ASEAN relations

Jun. 6, 2021 (China Daily) — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Special ASEANChina Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Celebration of the 30thAnniversary of Dialogue Relations and the sixth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chongqing, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on June 6.The meetings will be co-chaired by Wang Yi and diplomats from relevant ASEAN countries from June 7 to 8, according to spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Wang Wenbin said that this year sees special significance for the bilateral relations to build on the past achievements and pursue new progress.

02. SE Asia counting on more Chinese vaccines

Jun. 1, 2021 (China Daily) — Vaccines from China are proving critical to Southeast Asian nations as they battle a new wave of COVID-19 infections, experts said, adding that the region can also benefit from China's experience in protecting public health security as well as the economy.“Across Southeast Asia, (countries) are facing the resurgence (of COVID-19) with new variants,” said Chheang Vannarith, President of Asian Vision Institute, a think tank in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For many countries, the most effective solution is probably herd immunity, which requires vaccination of 70% or 80% of the entire population, he said.

03. Last tunnel of China-Laos railway drilled

Jun. 5, 2021 (China Daily) — The 9,509-meter-long Jingzhai tunnel of the China-Laos railway was successfully drilled through on June 5. So far, all 167 tunnels of the China-Laos Railway have been drilled, laying a solid foundation for the operation of the railway at the end of this year. The China-Laos railway stretches more than 1,000 kilometers from Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, to Vientiane, capital of Laos. Upon completion, it will slash the travel time between Jinghong city, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture and Kunming to nearly three hours.

04. ASEAN, China vow to deepen cooperation

Jun. 9, 2021 (China Daily) — China and member states of the ASEAN have pledged to deepen cooperation, advance regional economic integration and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea as their foreign ministers gathered in Chongqing for a special ASEAN-China foreign ministers’ meeting in celebration of the 30thanniversary of dialogue relations. The foreign ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, connectivity, disaster relief and prevention, as well as sustainable development in order to take their relationship to new heights.

05. Cambodian FM praises China for aiding ASEAN in battle against COVID-19

Jun. 10, 2021 (Xinhua) — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has praised China for helping the 10-country ASEAN and the world to fight against the COVID-19, said a foreign ministry’s statement released on June 9. The statement was released after Sokhonn concluded his working visit to Southwest China’s Chongqing, where he took part in the Special China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’Meeting and the sixth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC)Foreign Ministers' Meeting on June 7-8 respectively.

06. GWM starts vehicle production in Thailand

Jun. 10, 2021 (China Daily) — Great Wall Motors’ plant in Thailand started operation on June 9, marking the latest step of the largest Chinese pickup and SUV maker to explore overseas markets. That plant, located in Rayong, covers an area of 658,800 square meters. It has an annual production capacity of 80,000 vehicles and would create around 1,000 job opportunities for local people, said the carmaker. The carmaker said 60% of vehicles produced at the plant will be sold locally,and the rest will be exported.

07. Neighbor helps Laos step up jab efforts

Jun. 17, 2021 (China Daily) — Laos is stepping up its vaccination drive with the arrival of more COVID-19 vaccines from China. Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune said at a handover ceremony on June 15 for the fourth batch of the Chinese-donated vaccines that they have fully proved their safety and efficacy. Kikeo, who is also the chairman of the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and a Lao People’s Revolutionary Party central committee politburo member, said China has once again extended a timely helping hand with the arrival of the additional supplies as a new wave of coronavirus infections hits the country.

08. Singapore selects 24 private healthcare institutions to provide Sinovac vaccine

Jun. 17, 2021 (Xinhua) — Singapore’s Ministry of Health(MOH) has selected 24 private healthcare institutions to be licensed providers of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine under the Special Access Route (SAR), MOH said here on June 16. These providers will draw from MOH’s existing stock, and can administer the vaccine to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and persons holding long-term passes who wish to take the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, MOH said in a press release. MOH said these vaccines are being provided for the providers at no cost, individuals should take note that the providers should not charge them for the vaccine cost.