Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, April 21

Xinhua
21 Apr 2021

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN -- The Belt and Road Initiative would further complement the revitalization of economies, said Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah during a special speech via recorded video at the Opening Plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 in Boao, China.

According to local media reports on Wednesday, the Sultan was invited by Secretary General of the BFA Li Baodong to deliver the speech as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2021. (Brunei-Boao Forum)

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HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is adopting a multi-pronged approach to increase the supply of land and public housing, an official said Wednesday.

In a written reply to lawmakers, Secretary for Development Michael Wong cited ongoing efforts including land reclamation, property development projects, and redevelopment of brownfield land. (Hong Kong-Land Supply)

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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has canceled planned trips to India and the Philippines during the Golden Week holidays, due the novel coronavirus pandemic, the government's top spokesperson said Wednesday.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, plans had been made for Suga to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time in person, with the pair slated to discuss a number of issues pertaining to economic and security issues and spanning infrastructure building, cooperation in outer space and cybersecurity. (Japan-PM-Foreign Trip)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Defense Ministry has deployed warship Rigel and mine-sweeper Rengat to search for the Nanggala-402 submarine which lost contact with the navy during a strategic weapons firing exercise in Bali Strait waters in the early hours of Wednesday, according to an official source.

"The Indonesian Navy has also sent distress to the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison officer," said the Ministry's Public Relations Bureau in a press release. (Indonesia-Submarine)