ADB launches regional network to accelerate universal health coverage
According to ADB, more than 1 billion people across Asia and the Pacific still lack access to basic health services, with millions pushed into poverty due to healthcare costs.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda announces the launch of UHC PEERS (Photo: ADB)
Hanoi (VNA) ൩- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on July 8 announced the launch of the Universal Health Coverage Practitioners and Experts Knowledge Exchange and Resources (UHC PEERS), a regional peer-to-peer learning network designed to accelerate universal health coverage across the Asia-Pacific region.
The announcement was made at ADB's Inclusive, Sustainable, Prosperous, and Resilient (INSPIRE) Health Systems in Asia and the Pacific Health Forum, bringing together representatives of more than 25 developing member countries, including health ministers from nine countries, China's Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to ADB, more than 1 billion people across Asia and the Pacific still lack access to basic health services, with millions pushed into poverty due to healthcare costs.
UHC PEERS will complement the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo, enabling countries to learn from health financing reforms, service delivery innovations, and coverage expansion.
The network will facilitate exchanges on reaching remote populations, integrating private sector providers, and developing sustainable financing./.
Within the BIMP-EAGA framework, which includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, ADB has invested 500 million USD in agricultural development, 93 million USD in sustainable aquaculture, and another 500 million USD in ocean plastic waste reduction.
WB and ADB are long-standing strategic development partners of Vietnam, having supported the country’s poverty reduction, infrastructure development, governance, and sustainable development goals for decades.
“Strong trade, a recovery in export manufacturing, and robust foreign direct investment fueled Vietnam’s economic growth in 2024,” said ADB Country Director for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty as quoted by the bank in its related news release.
Singapore is at risk of chikungunya transmission as the number of reported cases this year has more than doubled compared to last year, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has reported.
On August 11, major RoK outlets, including Yonhap News Agency, KBS, The Korea Herald, and The Korea Times, provided prominent coverage of the talks held the same day between General Secretary Lam and President Lee Jae Myung, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economy, security, technology, and culture.
The Singaporean government needs to enable people, workers and businesses to make full use of these tools, and enhance their competitive advantage. It “will walk this journey” with Singaporeans as it has done for the past six decades, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm both ASEAN member states' and partners’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and narrowing development gaps.
Thailand emits roughly 350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, with the energy and industrial sectors accounting for more than 75% of this amount. Though this volume represents just 1% of global emissions, the Thai Government is eager to achieve carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050.
The Malaysian government is undertaking a structured assessment to examine the role of nuclear power as a potential option for clean, stable, and competitive electricity within Malaysia’s future energy mix.
It aims to identify and honour digital technology initiatives, products, and solutions with practical applications; promote creativity in technology development; anticipate trends and development potential in digital technology; and recognise the role of digital technology in economic growth and enhancing quality of life for citizens in ASEAN countries.
Addressing the ceremony, Indonesian Ambassador Simon D.I. Soekamo, the rotating Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, highlighted the bloc's spirit of friendship and solidarity, and reaffirmed ASEAN's core values of peace, stability, and prosperity through cooperation and dialogue.
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
