Brunei

The joint statement issued following the event noted that to facilitate people’s cross-border movement, both countries will prioritise vaccination for their diplomats, students, and expatriates; ensure access to vaccine supplies for both Brunei and Malaysia ; and mutually recognise each other’s vaccination certificates.

The two leaders agreed in principle on the establishment of a reciprocal “green lane”, with effective COVID-19 prevention and control measures, to facilitate essential business and official travel between both countries.

In terms of bilateral ties, they reaffirmed their commitment to further nurture this special relationship by broadening and strengthening cooperation in an array of mutually beneficial areas.

They appreciated the collaboration between the two governments, particularly in managing the repatriation of their respective citizens stranded in each other’s country and other nations during the pandemic.

The leaders also expressed their wish to enhance economic links, including in agriculture, fisheries, education, connectivity, trade, and tourism; defence ties; cooperation in youth and sports; along with transport connectivity.

In a memorandum of understanding between the two governments on cooperation in disaster management signed at the end of the leaders’ consultation, they said the countries will strengthen ties in the area, particularly through training, joint exercise, operation and the exchange of expertise and information related to disaster prevention and risk reduction./.

According to Brunei’s Ministry of Health, a total of 754 people received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine injection on Saturday, including Haji Awang Mohammad Isham, Minister of Health, who received his jab of Sinopharm vaccine at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital (RIPAS), the country’s biggest public hospital with dozens of other recipients.

“We need to work together to ensure that we protect the whole country with vaccines against the COVID-19,” the minister told Xinhua.

“Everyone in the country should play their part, which means everyone eligible for the vaccines should get vaccinated,” he added, saying his ministry deployed Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines for the first day of the national vaccination program in the country.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free for citizens and people residing in Brunei who are 18 years old and above. In the first phase, vaccine shots will be given to around 2,000 local frontliners, including health facility staff, uniformed personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force, as well as those involved in quarantines and immigration post control affairs.

According to the phases outlined in Brunei’s COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, COVID-19 vaccine injections will be given to frontliners for the first phase and subsequently will be extended to other groups.

“We are confident of the vaccines and it’s our responsibility to get vaccinated to help achieve herd immunity in Brunei,” Hajah Zanatul Aini Haji Zainin, a RIPAS pharmacist, told Xinhua after she received her jab.

Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine injection at the royal palace Istana Nurul Iman on Thursday. After the first dose injection, the Sultan has consented for the rolling-out of the national vaccination program.

According to Brunei’s Ministry of Health, vaccination is the most effective measure to break the COVID-19 transmission chain. In the mid and long term, the more people receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, the higher the people’s immunity against COVID-19, and in turn reduce the effects of coronavirus towards public health.

Brunei reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the national tally to 214.

With the detection of this case, a total of 73 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. Brunei has recorded 332 days without local COVID-19 infection cases.

Brunei also reported two more recoveries from the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, with only 14 active cases remaining.

There have been three deaths and 197 recovered patients reported from COVID-19 so far in Brunei.

Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn held phone talks with Brunei Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on Tuesday. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn held phone talks with Brunei Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on Tuesday, during which both agreed to maintain the two nations’ mechanism of the joint committee on bilateral co-operation.

The Brunei minister congratulated Sơn on his appointment as foreign minister and praised Việt Nam’s work in pandemic prevention and socio-economic development as well as its outstanding achievements in external relations, including its 2020 ASEAN chairmanship and the position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021.

Minister Sơn spoke highly of the two nations lifting of their ties to a comprehensive partnership on the occasion of the Sultan of Brunei’s visit to Việt Nam in 2019 and expressed his delight at the sound development of their co-operation, particularly in trade last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both ministers agreed to build an action plan to implement the comprehensive partnership for the next five years and regularly and effectively maintain the nations’ mechanism of the joint committee on bilateral co-operation while studying to establish a political consultation mechanism and signing a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the two foreign ministries as soon as possible.

They also agreed to the two nations’ ties in trade and investment.

Sơn took the occasion to thank Brunei and other ASEAN states for supporting Việt Nam in holding its role as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021.

Việt Nam is backing Brunei’s ASEAN chairmanship this year, he said.

Sơn invited Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof to visit Việt Nam at a convenient time, and the Brunei minister accepted with pleasure. — VNS