Philippines says China to donate half a million Covid-19 vaccines

13 Sept 13:54 Key points summarised by AI

China's top diplomat pledged to donate 500,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines, as Manila scrambles to secure supplies for its 110 million people.
The donation comes amid growing public resistance and efficacy concerns in the Philippines regarding Chinese-made jabs, despite President Duterte's active defense of them.
This pledge follows the Philippines' existing agreement to purchase 25 million doses of Sinovac's Coronavac and similar vaccine donation announcements to Cambodia and Myanmar.
Efficacy trials for Coronavac have shown varied results, ranging from 91.25 percent in Turkey to approximately 50 percent in more robust trials in Brazil, contributing to public skepticism.

ASEAN envoy to visit Myanmar starting Wednesday

Yesterday 08:32 Key points summarised by AI

**Humanitarian Mission:** An ASEAN special envoy, led by Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro, will visit Myanmar to expand humanitarian access and engage with local and national officials.
**Aid Focus:** The delegation, including experts from the AHA Centre, will assess humanitarian needs in conflict-hit regions like Shan State, aiming to streamline aid delivery.
**No Suu Kyi Engagement:** Despite recent positive developments for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the envoy's visit will not include a meeting with her, as no such arrangement was made.
**Unfulfilled Consensus:** While Myanmar establishes an ASEAN Affairs Coordinating Committee and its own roadmap, ASEAN reiterates that the bloc's Five-Point Consensus remains unfulfilled, leading to continued exclusion of Myanmar's political appointees from high-level meetings.