The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information adopted the Joint Statement to Minimize the Negative Effects of COVID-19 to combat fake news and misinformation related to the pandemic, and enhance effective public communication through media and information cooperation.
BANGKOK, THAILAND (28 October 2020) –The 11th The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) GMS Economic Corridors Forum was held today under the theme “Boosting Competitiveness, Connectivity, and Community in the GMS Economic Corridors through Focused and Integrated Spatial Development” with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Secretariat to the GMS Economic Program. The Forum serves as a key platform that crystalizes thinking and experiences from all six member countries on spatial development with focus on successes and potential areas for developments in economic corridor connectivity, regional economic integration, and safe and sustainable community-building. The meeting yielded valuable discussions that helped pave the way for strengthening the GMS cooperation for the future.
ADB’s Multi-Donor Project Readiness Improvement Trust Fund (PRI Fund) has been supporting Southeast Asia to build a pipeline of climate resilient design- and procurement-ready infrastructure projects. Watch the video showing how the PRI Fund helps such investments become shovel ready, innovative and catalytic, featuring Lao PDR’s Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Watershed Management Sector Project.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has put a heavy burden on the healthcare systems of developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
Top row, left to right: Dr. Danucha Pichayanan, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (Thailand); Mr. Liu Weihua, Deputy Director General, Department of International Economic and Financial Cooperation, Ministry of Finance (PRC); Mr. Alfredo Perdiguero, Director, SERC, ADB. Middle row: Mr. Than Aung Kyaw, Director General, FERD, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (Myanmar). Bottom row, left to right: Ms. Sisomboun Ounavong, Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment (Lao PDR); Dr. Pham Hoang Mai, Director General, Foreign Economic Relations Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment (Viet Nam); and H.E. Mr. Ros Seilava, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy and Finance (Cambodia)
A GMS Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held on 11 September 2020 via web-based conferencing to review (i) proposed key GMS strategic planning documents and knowledge products, which includes GMS COVID-19 response initiatives and the new long-term strategy for the GMS program, and (ii) preparations for upcoming GMS events—the 11th Economic Corridors Forum (ECF-11), the 24th GMS Ministerial Conference (MC-24), and the 7th GMS Summit (Summit-7).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) held a joint virtual dialogue on Labor Migration in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) on 8 September 2020, with the aim of strengthening cooperation through enhanced labor migration management.
With proactive planning and investment in health and other sectors—and the support of partners like ADB—the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are meeting the challenge of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic while ensuring faster economic recovery.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) released a Situation Report on conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin in January-July 2020 identifying possible causes of low flows and drought.
The MRC noted that the Lower Mekong River Basin has experienced record lows for the second consecutive year.
The Beijing Ruentex Environment Technology Group is a designated destination for disposing “medical wastes related to COVID-19” and “domestic wastes related to COVID-19” by the Beijing Municipal Emergency Response Headquarters for COVID-19 Caused Pneumonia. The company developed emergency plans and measures, and scientifically allocated resources for the disposal of epidemic-related medical wastes. Photo by ADB.
2020 began with Thailand implementing a ban on single-use plastic with the aim of reducing plastic waste by 30% this year.
The Lopburi solar power plant in central Thailand. Photo by ADB.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted people’s health and well-being, led to widespread job loss, and created extraordinary uncertainty with long-lasting effects. As with climate change, the pandemic has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable people across the globe, including those in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226