Day: December 8, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to “leverage” the federal government’s scale and purchasing power to make it carbon neutral, cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 65% in less than a decade and establish an all-electric fleet of vehicles.

The order will cut emissions in federal operations as part of the government’s effort to combat climate change.

Biden’s directive requires that government buildings consume 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, the U.S. fleet of vehicles be 100% electric by 2035, and federal contracts for goods and services be carbon-free by 2050.

“The United States government will lead by example to provide a strong foundation for American businesses to compete and win globally in the clean energy economy while creating well-paying union jobs at home,” the White House said in a statement announcing the climate change initiative.

Source: Voice of America

– General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong received Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos (NA) Xaysomphone Phomvihane, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec 7.

The Lao leader thanked Vietnam for its enormous, timely, and effective support and assistance for his country. He affirmed that the Lao NA will keep close coordination with its Vietnamese counterpart to effectively carry out the agreements reached between leaders of the two Parties, countries, and parliaments.

Welcoming his guest, Party General Secretary Trong described the visit as a demonstration of the close and special ties between Vietnam and Laos.

He highly valued the important role of the two parliaments as well as their cooperation outcomes, asking the two NAs and their committees to enhance cooperation and information and experience sharing; organise workshops on law making, supervision, and decision of major issues; increase coordination in monitoring and promoting the governments, ministries, sectors, and localities’ implementation of signed programmes and projects; and keep supporting each other at multilateral and inter-parliamentary forums.

The host leader also asked the two sides to work together to hold activities celebrating the Laos – Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year in 2022.

At the meeting, both host and guest expressed their delight that the special bilateral relations, set up by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane, and Souphanouvong and nurtured by generations of the countries’ Party and State leaders, have been unceasingly solidified and developing in a substantive and effective manner in all fields, generating practical benefits for the two peoples.

They also committed all-out efforts to maintain, nurture, and pass down the sound Laos – Vietnam relations to future generations.

The two leaders shared the view that their countries’ special ties are a priceless common asset of the two Parties and peoples, a vital relationship, an important resource for the national development and safeguarding in each nation, and also an active contribution to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

On December 7 morning, Chairman Xaysomphone Phomvihane, his spouse, and the high-ranking delegation of the Lao NA laid wreaths and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi.

Source: Lao News Agency

Port Vila, Vanuatu, 8 December 2021 – Today, the Government of Japan and UNICEF have handed over 20 solar refrigerators and freezers to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to support efficient deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the country.

“The Ministry of Health acknowledges the timely support by the Government of Japan and UNICEF that is important to support the Government’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Vanuatu,” said the Minister for Health, Hon. Silas Bule Melve. He added, “With better vaccine storage equipment, our health facilities around the country will ensure our citizens continue to access the vaccination programme in rural Vanuatu.”

These solar refrigerators and freezers are expected to support the Vanuatu Govt drive to vaccinate all the eligible population through strengthening the cold chain management system. The supplies will help deliver life-saving vaccines to health facilities and communities, including those in remote islands, providing a significant improvement to the health system.

“Ensuring equitable access to and swift distribution of vaccines is a key challenge shared by the international community towards the goal of containing COVID-19. This cold chain support for Vanuatu is a part of Japan’s “Last One Mile Support” to ensure that vaccines reach each and every person in the all corners of developing countries,” said the Ambassador of Japan to Vanuatu, H.E. Chiba Hirohisa. He also reaffirmed, “Japan has always been with the people of Vanuatu and will continue to strongly support Vanuatu’s fight against COVID-19 and the efforts for economic recovery of the nation after the pandemic.”

Although Vanuatu has not had any community transmission, the global pandemic still presents a serious risk to the country, with the limited resources available to fight the deadly disease.

“While Vanuatu has remained largely unscathed by COVID-19 compared to the rest of the world, UNICEF’s strengthened partnership with the Government of Japan is important to ensure that the country quickly moves to achieving 90 per cent coverage of its eligible population with the vaccine,” stated UNICEF’s Chief of Vanuatu Field Office, Eric Durpaire. “Our ongoing work with the Government of Vanuatu and partners ensures that the health system is robust to ensure children, families and communities are safe and protected”.

UNICEF has been working closely with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to help prevent the introduction and spread of the virus among communities. This includes supporting the vital procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility as well as providing technical and financial resources for the roll out of vaccination in the country.

Notes to Editors:

This funding is part of the broader Japanese Emergency Grant Aid of approximately USD 41 million to 25 countries in Southeast and Southwest Asia and the Pacific. The 25 countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

About the Government of Japan:

Japan provides funds (grants, loans, etc.) and technologies that are useful for “development”, including peacebuilding, governance, promotion of basic human rights and humanitarian assistance, in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to eligible countries and regions. ODA includes bilateral aid to directly assist developing countries and regions, and multilateral aid, which consist of contributions to international organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, and WHO.

Source: UN Children’s Fund

Some 1,209 new Covid-19 cases and five new deaths have been recorded nationwide over the previous 24 hours, the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control reported today.

Detected among 10,593 people tested for Covid-19, the newly reported infections have raised the total to 83,291 including 12,100 active cases and 219 deaths.

Yesterday witnessed 488 Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals nationwide, Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Dr Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh told a press conference this morning.

The new infections-all classified as domestic infections – included 687 cases documented in Vientiane, 80 in Bokeo, 75 in Luang Namtha, 60 in Oudomxay, 54 in Luang Prabang, 41 each in Savannakhet and Champassak, 36 in Vientiane (province) and 29 in Xayaboury.

Meanwhile, 22 each were documented in Borikhamxay and Xaysomboun, 19 in Xekong, nine in Xieng Khuang, eight in Phongsaly, seven each in Huaphan, Khammuan and Saravan and five in Attapeu.

Covid-19 has infected over 267 million people and claimed more than 5.27 million lives worldwide since the first case was reported in China in late 2019, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.

Source: Lao News Agency