KHON KAEN: China has donated 100,000 face masks meant for provincial officials and residents amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Liao Junyun, the consul-general at the Chinese Consulate in Khon Kaen handed the items over to provincial governor Somsak Changtrakul during a ceremony yesterday.
Mr Somsak said the donated masks reflect Chinese President Xi Jinping's concerns for Thais during the outbreak.
He then thanked China on behalf of the people of Khon Kaen province.
Mr Somsak said the masks will be distributed to various government units in the province and the people who need them.
China has faced criticism for its so-called "mask diplomacy".
In other news, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on all countries to pursue sustainable development by embracing the bio, circular, green (BCG) economy after Covid-19.
In his speech to mark the 76th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap), Gen Prayut stressed the importance of maintaining an economic and social balance in the post-Covid-19 world.
He said Thailand is "rebuilding to become better" under its sufficiency economy philosophy and the country will continue on its path to achieving sustainable development.
Gen Prayut said the outbreak has opened opportunities to enhance cooperation towards sustainability in food and energy security, public health and the digital economy.