Author: Web Desk

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, together with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangkok, jointly organized a press conference on the launching of the logo and awarding ceremony to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia in 2022 at the Ministry. The press conference was co-chaired by Mr. Asi Mamanee, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Evgeny Tomikhin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Thailand.

At the press conference, the Director-General and the Ambassador delivered remarks emphasizing the long-standing ties between Thailand and Russia, which dated back to the Royal Visit of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) to the Russian Empire during 3-11 July 1897. The date when the King arrived at St.Petersburg on 3 July 1897 was marked as the formal establishment of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia.

The press conference was organized to raise awareness among the public of the enduring friendship between the two countries. The logo design contest also aimed to encourage a wide public participation in celebrating this auspicious anniversary. The contest attracted 116 entries from all over Thailand and Russia. Both sides were pleased to announce Mr. Wachira Losong, a freelance graphic designer from Thailand, as the winner of the competition.

A series of events and activities have been planned to commemorate the 125th anniversary both in Thailand and in Russia throughout 2022, including exchange of high-level visits, signing of bilateral agreements, and commemorative events in culture, sports, tourism, science and technology. These activities will contribute to even closer relations between the two countries.

 

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Travellers arriving from countries that are subject to temporary travel restrictions and COVID-19 high-risk countries will not be allowed to enter east Malaysian state of Sabah until they completed their seven to 14-day quarantine period, effective Monday.

State Local Government and Housing Minister, Masidi Manjun, said travellers arriving from countries that are subject to temporary travel restrictions had to undergo quarantine for 14 days while those from countries other than those listed had to undergo seven days quarantine for fully vaccinated individuals, and 10 days for not fully vaccinated individuals.

“They also need to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR test two days prior to departure from the country, and a similar test upon arrival. They are not allowed to quarantine at home.

“Apart from that, an RT-PCR test should also be done on the fifth day for seven-day quarantine and the eighth day for 10-day quarantine, (with) risk assessment on the last day, and extension of quarantine if necessary,” he said in a statement on Monday.

He said that travellers also need to fill in a health declaration form (eHDF) on the website https://sm.jknsabah.gov.my/HDF/hdf.php before leaving for Sabah, and comply with the Immigration Department’s entry guidelines.

Meanwhile, Masidi said that Sabah recorded 125 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, with a cumulative total of 239,715 cases and two deaths reported.

 

Source: Nam News Network

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia’s total trade surpassed the RM2 trillion (US$478 billion) mark for the first time in history, expanding 24.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM2.01 trillion (US$480 billion) from January to November 2021.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said during the period, exports increased by 25.7 per cent y-o-y to RM1.11 trillion (RM1=US$4.184), imports rose by 23.3 per cent y-o-y to RM894.42 billion and trade surplus edged up by 36.2 per cent y-o-y to RM221.53 billion.

In a statement Tuesday, it said for the first 11 months of 2021, all products recorded export expansions, except for transport equipment as well as beverages and tobacco.

“Exports of manufactured goods grew 25.3 per cent y-o-y to RM961.89 billion, aided by growing exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products, petroleum products, manufactures of metal, rubber products as well as chemicals and chemical products,” it said.

Matrade said exports of agriculture goods rose 37.3 per cent y-o-y to RM87.03 billion due to strong exports of palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products and natural rubber.

Additionally, exports of mining goods edged up 17.8 per cent y-o-y to RM62.78 billion, buoyed by higher exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), metalliferous ores and metal scrap, as well as crude petroleum, it said.

Meanwhile, it noted that trade breached the RM200 billion mark for the second time in a row in November 2021, marking the 10th consecutive month of double-digit growth since February 2021.

During the month, total trade expanded 34.9 per cent y-o-y to RM205.5 billion, as exports rose 32.4 per cent y-o-y to RM112.2 billion — the 15th consecutive month of y-o-y expansion since September 2020 — while imports were higher by 38 per cent y-o-y at RM93.3 billion.

Trade surplus increased 10.5 per cent y-o-y to RM18.9 billion.

It said exports of all major sectors recorded double-digit y-o-y growth on the back of higher exports of all products, except for rubber products and crude petroleum.

For instance, it said exports of E&E products increased by 17.4 per cent y-o-y to RM40.04 billion, accounting for 35.7 per cent of total exports in November 2021.

“Petroleum products exports surged 111.6 per cent y-o-y to RM9.65 billion and accounted for 8.6 per cent of total exports, while export of palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products surged 97.4 per cent y-o-y to RM7.91 billion and accounted for 7.1 per cent of total exports,” it said.

Matrade said exports of chemicals and chemical products rose 45.9 per cent y-o-y to RM6.51 billion and took up 5.8 per cent of total exports, while export of manufactures of metal surged 75.9 per cent y-o-y to RM5.74 billion and made 5.1 per cent of total exports.

Meanwhile, it said exports to major markets, notably ASEAN, China, the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and Japan recorded double-digit growth in November 2021, with exports to ASEAN and the US registering an all-time high monthly value.

ASEAN accounted for 27.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade, with trade and exports at an all-time high in November 2021, expanding by 45.5 per cent y-o-y to RM56.63 billion.

Exports rose 39.4 per cent y-o-y and imports climbed 54.8 per cent y-o-y.

Meanwhile, trade with China accounted for 18.5 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade, climbing 26.1 per cent y-o-y to RM37.92 billion, with exports growing by 20.5 per cent and imports increasing by 31.2 per cent.

Matrade said exports to the US also rose to a record high in November 2021, increasing by 33.5 per cent y-o-y to RM13.03 billion.

“Imports from the US was up by 18.1 per cent y-o-y to RM6.69 billion; thus total trade with the US grew by 27.9 per cent y-o-y to RM19.72 billion,” it said, adding that trade with the US accounted for 9.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade during the month.

On a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, Matrade said Malaysia’s trade and imports grew by 1.5 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively, while exports and trade surplus contracted by 1.9 per cent and 28.1 per cent, respectively.

 

Source: Nam News Network