Month: April 2026

International experts have increasingly identified a defining distinction within Southeast Asia’s real estate landscape. While some countries host numerous fragmented, small-scale developments, the ability to achieve true critical mass – a fully integrated, large-scale urban ecosystem – remains rare.

Critical mass refers to master-planned environments where residential, educational, healthcare, retail, and leisure components coexist and are seamlessly linked by robust transport infrastructure. This model has become the defining competitive advantage of Vinhomes-led developments.

Simultaneously, ESG considerations have evolved from a compliance checkbox into a strategic differentiator, increasingly shaping capital allocation. Institutional investors are no longer driven solely by short-term yield but are prioritizing long-duration assets that demonstrate sustainability, resilience, and measurable societal impact.

Vietnam continues to stand out due to its stable political framework, consistent macroeconomic management, and strong FDI performance. In Q1 2026 alone, FDI inflows rose approximately 22% year-on-year, with Ho Chi Minh City recording an exceptional 220% surge. Experts at the forum reached a consensus: global capital is entering a new allocation cycle, concentrating in developments capable of generating intrinsic value through operational sustainability and integrated urban functionality.

The Rise of ESG-Driven Integrated Ecosystems

Geopolitical instability and energy market disruptions have accelerated demand for next-generation urban models, specifically green, smart, and sustainable mega-urban developments structured as holistic ecosystems. Stephen Higgins, Director of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, noted that contemporary capital flows increasingly target assets with sufficient scale to form comprehensive ecosystems, what he describes as “urban marvels.”

Vietnam holds a unique structural advantage: large-scale developments exceeding 1,000 hectares, common in emerging urban corridors, offer rare opportunities for fully integrated master planning, a scale virtually unattainable in many mature markets. ESG standards have become decisive in investment underwriting. While ESG gained traction in the early 2000s, its acceleration post-2020, following net-zero commitments by 2050, has been dramatic. In Vietnam, both investors and multinational tenants prioritize ESG-compliant assets for higher occupancy rate, lower operational risk, and long-term value preservation.

Although Vietnam remains at an early stage in ESG-aligned real estate, it benefits from a “late-mover advantage,” adopting global best practices without legacy constraints. Large-scale projects by established developers can create market-wide spillover effects, raising environmental standards, reinforcing social responsibility and setting new benchmarks for governance.

Infrastructure as the Anchor of Capital Allocation

As Griffiths emphasized, capital tends to “follow infrastructure.” Metro systems, ring roads, airports, and seaports reshape urban geography and redefine growth corridors. Areas once considered peripheral transform into economic hubs, while traditional centers may gradually lose dominance. This dynamic enables forward-looking investment based on anticipated infrastructure-driven value creation.

Can Gio exemplifies this shift. Historically constrained by limited connectivity, it remained excluded from previous growth cycles. However, with major infrastructure projects underway, market fundamentals are changing decisively. Griffiths noted that coastal destinations are globally competitive; to differentiate, Vietnam must offer compelling value in pricing, quality, and integrated experiences within master-planned estates. Few markets achieve the critical mass required for a fully self-sufficient urban ecosystem. Developments led by Vingroup, such as Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio, provide residents with comprehensive amenities (education, healthcare, wellness, entertainment) within a unified urban framework, supported by strong transport connectivity, ensuring accessibility and long-term viability.

A Blueprint for Integrated Living: The Scale and Scope of Vinhomes Green Paradise

Against this backdrop, Vinhomes Green Paradise is emerging as a flagship next-generation asset in Asia. The convergence of evolving investment preferences and infrastructure expansion has created a clear blueprint: large-scale, integrated urban developments capable of sustaining long-term operations and diversified revenue streams.

Strategically located along over 13 kilometers of coastline, close to Ho Chi Minh City, the project serves both residential and tourism demand. Its scale, approximately 2,870 hectares, enables a fully integrated master plan combining residential zones, hospitality assets, commercial centers, and leisure facilities. This multi-layered revenue structure reduces reliance on capital appreciation alone, enhancing income stability, aligning closely with institutional investment criteria, particularly for long-term capital seeking predictable cash flows.

A defining feature is its adjacency to a UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve, providing a strong foundation for ESG-aligned development. As global funds tighten sustainability requirements, projects balancing economic growth with environmental preservation hold distinct competitive advantage. Experts have drawn parallels between Vinhomes Green Paradise and global icons like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Notably, no other location in Asia currently offers the conditions to replicate such a development so close to an existing major metropolis, positioning this project as a uniquely scarce asset.

Large conglomerates like Vingroup possess the execution capability to deliver such complexity, offering a diverse product mix, villas, high-end apartments, smart urban infrastructure, within a single ecosystem. Capital from markets such as Japan is increasingly focusing on Vietnam, seeking entry opportunities.

Vietnam is entering a new investment cycle, characterized by macroeconomic stability, accelerated infrastructure development, and rapid urbanization. These factors together create a strong gravitational pull for global capital. However, international capital is not merely seeking large markets, it seeks points of convergence where capital can be preserved and compounded over the long term.

In this context, Vinhomes Green Paradise is positioning itself as a new capital “sink” – where scale, location, ecosystem integration, and ESG alignment intersect. As often observed in early-stage investment cycles, the greatest advantages accrue to those who recognize structural growth patterns before they are fully priced into the market. Vietnam, and projects like Vinhomes Green Paradise, are increasingly entering this phase of asymmetric opportunity.

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

https://vinhomes.vn/en

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

1月，黃金延續去年第四季度漲勢，一度創下每盎司5595美元的歷史新高。2月初市場劇烈震盪，金價雖短暫重返5000美元大關，但隨著2月底中東戰事爆發、美元反彈，前期利多因素出盡。目前金價穩定在4500美元附近，季度漲幅約5%。

白銀走勢同樣大起大落。1月底觸及120美元高點後大幅回檔，幾乎腰斬。隨後一度反彈至90美元，但3月起再度走低，當前穩定在70美元附近，季度漲幅不足2%。

鉑金與鈀金則承壓更重。全球油價上漲削弱了工業金屬的需求支撐，大量用於汽油車的鈀金及柴油車的鉑金持續走跌。第一季度鉑金下跌近10%，鈀金跌幅超過15%，與金銀走勢形成顯著分化。

高通脹疊加強勢美元 金價漲勢遭雙重壓制

美伊戰爭爆發初期，金價一度沖高。但隨著油價上漲，市場對通脹反彈可能影響聯儲局降息路徑的擔憂加劇。對不孳息的黃金而言，高利率環境構成實質性利空。與此同時，美元走強推高黃金投資成本，進一步抑制了金價漲幅。

資金面的變化也印證了這一趨勢。據世界黃金協會統計，1月全球黃金ETF淨流入約190億美元，創月度新高；2月淨流入約53億美元，實現連續第九個月淨流入。但到了3月，市場迅速轉向拋售。此前為最大流入地區之一的北美，3月卻成為最大的淨流出地區。

另外交易量也逐步萎縮。現貨交易量在1月創下新高後逐步放緩，場外日均交易量環比下降12%至2450億美元。全球黃金ETF交易量從2月初的280億美元降至月末的120億美元左右。這表明，儘管黃金在地緣政治緊張時仍具避險功能，但市場更擔憂通脹升高可能壓制金價的整體走勢。

停火或升級 二季度黃金面臨兩條路徑

目前，黃金正處於超跌後尋找支撐的階段。經歷利多出盡及聯儲局鷹派立場引發的深度回檔後，第二季度市場關注焦點將集中於地緣衝突走向及其帶來的通脹變化。

近期美伊談判結果反復，戰爭前景難料。VT Markets分析團隊認為，以下兩種情景假設值得關注：

若第二季度雙方達成實質性停火，霍爾木茲海峽重新開放，油價驅動的通脹壓力將有所緩解，降息預期有望回歸。儘管戰爭結束可能會使金價的戰爭溢價短期消退，但長期來看對金價是構成利多的。

另外一種情景是戰爭持續或進一步升級，霍爾木茲海峽繼續受阻，油價將首當其衝上漲。短期內，黃金可能再次出現流動性擠兌，與股市同步下跌；中期來看，將破壞美聯儲的降息預期，抑制金價漲幅。

綜合VT Markets分析團隊的判斷，黃金在第一季度末回檔後，第二季度預計在每盎司4400至4800美元區間築底。若戰爭緩和，短期存在回撤風險；若通脹失控，金價則有衝擊5000美元的潛力。

Hashtag: #差價合約 #CFDs經紀商 #黃金 #XAUUSD #XAGUSD

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AI 赋能传统中药，共启大健康产业新篇章

香港 – Media OutReach Newswire – 2026年4月10日 – AI药物研发公司 昂心生物 （AilsynBio） 今日于香港科学园举行项目合作签约仪式 ，宣布与 东阿阿胶股份有限公司（000423.SZ）达成项目合作协议 。此次合作标志着人工智能（AI）与传统医药的深度跨界融合，旨在透过科技赋能生物医药创新。

本次仪式汇聚了产、学、研各界的重量级嘉宾，包括华润医药集团、香港科技园公司及香港大学的高层领导与专家，共同见证这一重要里程碑 。

华润医药首席科学家陈波博士指出：此次与东阿阿胶及昂心生物的合作，是华润医药推动中医药现代化的一次重要实践，更是内地与香港在”AI+中药”领域产学研深度融合的探索。我们期待通过整合两地科研与产业资源，为破解中药作用机制难题、加速中医药从经验医学迈向循证医学提供创新路径。

东阿阿胶副总裁郑梁先生表示：复方阿胶浆作为东阿阿胶的核心战略大品种，其科学价值的深化对品牌升级至关重要。本次合作将为产品在女性健康领域的科学基础研究添砖加瓦，并成为传统中药与前沿科技跨界合作的标杆。

香港大学科桥有限公司董事总经理王光世先生表示，香港大学科桥有限公司 荣幸见证港大初创企业 昂心生物 与华润医药集团旗下 东阿阿胶 签约启动项目合作。此次合作充分体现了将香港顶尖学术研究成果转化为具备重大影响力之产业应用的成功范例。这项合作将助力其履行将前沿生物技术推向全球规模化应用的使命。

展望未来，双方将重点推进三大合作方向：一是推进 AI 驱动创新，利用 昂心生物 的 AI 药物发现平台以加速生物医药研发进程 ；二是开展专项研究，针对「卵巢早衰（POI）」研究项目进行深度合作 ；三是促进跨界融合，探讨生物技术、人工智能与传统中药之融合，携手开创大健康产业的新范式 。

在签约仪式上，昂心生物与东阿阿胶双方签署协议 。仪式由华润医药首席科学家陈波博士、香港科技园首席创科生态发展总监柯志成先生，以及香港大学科桥有限公司董事总经理王光世先生共同见证 。

昂心生物 表示，本次合作不仅是前沿技术与传统医药的结合，更是对未来医疗健康创新的战略布局 。透过 AI 技术的赋能，将为传统医药注入科技活力，造福更多患者 。

Hashtag: #AilsynBio #昂心生物

https://ailsynbio.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

关于华润医药

华润医药集团有限公司（香港联合交易所股份代码：03320.HK）是中国领先的综合医药公司，主要从事医药研发、制造、分销及零售等业务，旗下拥有多家上市公司和化学药、生物药创新药研发平台。公司产品组合包括化学药品、中药、生物制剂、保健品及医疗器械等，覆盖广泛治疗领域，旗下拥有「999」「东阿阿胶」「江中」等多个知名品牌。公司秉承「守护人类健康 提升生命质量」的使命，致力于成为大众信赖、创新驱动发展的医药健康产业引领者。

关于东阿阿胶

东阿阿胶股份有限公司（000423.SZ）是阿胶及系列产品生产经营企业，隶属央企华润集团，主要从事阿胶及系列中成药、保健食品和食品的研发、生产和销售。公司前身为山东东阿阿胶厂，1952年建厂，1996年在深交所挂牌上市，2005年加入华润集团。公司拥有国家胶类中药工程技术研究中心、博士后科研工作站，是国家高新技术企业、国家级创新型企业，同时也是国家级非物质文化遗产传承企业、全国中医药文化宣传教育基地。产品除国内市场外，还销往东南亚、欧美等10多个国家和地区。

关于昂心生物AilsynBio

AilsynBio 是一家 AI-native 生物科技公司，致力于差异化治疗药物的理性设计。透过结合人工智能、基于物理的建模技术，以及深厚的药物化学专业知识，公司提供涵盖新靶点识别、作用机制解析，以及先导分子设计与优化的全流程药物研发解决方案。AilsynBio 的技术已在与多家全球顶尖制药公司的合作中获得验证，展现出业界领先的预测准确性，并能以更高效率、更高成功率，以及远低于传统方法的时间与成本，推进具 IND 申报潜力的候选分子交付。

The ceremony brought together influential leaders and experts from industry, academia, and research sectors, including senior representatives from China Resources Pharmaceutical Group, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), and The University of Hong Kong (HKU), to witness this significant milestone.

Dr. Bo Chen, Chief Scientific Officer of China Resources Pharmaceutical, noted:

“This collaboration with Dong-E-E-Jiao and AilsynBio is a key initiative for China Resources Pharmaceutical in advancing the modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It represents a deep integration of industry, academia, and research in the field of ‘AI + TCM’ between Mainland China and Hong Kong. We look forward to leveraging scientific research and industrial resources from both regions to overcome the challenges of TCM’s mechanisms of action and to pave an innovative path for TCM to evolve from empirical medicine to evidence-based medicine.”

Mr. Liang Zheng, Vice President of Dong-E-E-Jiao, stated:

“As a core strategic product for Dong-E-E-Jiao, deepening the scientific value of Compound E-Jiao Syrup is crucial for our brand upgrade. This cooperation will strengthen the scientific foundation of our products in the field of women’s health, helping Dong-E-E-Jiao accelerate into a new stage of ‘reshaping TCM wisdom through technological innovation.'”

Mr. Pierre Wang, Managing Director of HKU Versitech Limited, stated:

“HKU Versitech is honored to witness this project cooperation between HKU spin-off AilsynBio Ltd. and China Resources Pharmaceutical subsidiary Dong-E E-Jiao, a partnership that exemplifies the successful translation of Hong Kong’s top-tier academic research into high-impact industrial applications. This cooperation will continue to serve as a vital catalyst for the company’s rapid international growth and its mission to scale cutting-edge biotechnology globally.”

Looking ahead, the two parties will focus on three key collaborative directions:

1. Advancing AI-driven innovation: Leveraging AilsynBio’s AI drug discovery platform to accelerate biopharmaceutical R&D processes.
2. Launching specialized research: Engaging in in-depth cooperation on the “Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)” research project.
3. Promoting cross-border fusion: Exploring the integration of biotechnology, AI, and traditional medicine to jointly create a new paradigm for the health industry.

During the ceremony, AilsynBio and Dong-E-E-Jiao signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. The signing was witnessed by Dr. Bo Chen, Chief Scientist of China Resources Pharmaceutical; Mr. Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer of HKSTP; and Mr. Pierre Wang, Managing Director of HKU Versitech.

AilsynBio stated that this cooperation is not only a combination of cutting-edge technology and traditional medicine, but also a strategic layout for future healthcare innovation. By leveraging AI technology, the partnership aims to inject technological vitality into traditional medicine for the benefit of more patients.

Hashtag: #AilsynBio #昂心生物

https://ailsynbio.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About China Resources Pharmaceutical

China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Stock code: 03320.HK) stands as a premier, integrated pharmaceutical enterprise in China. Our comprehensive operations span the entire value chain, from R&D and manufacturing to distribution and retail. We host a robust portfolio of listed subsidiaries and maintain advanced innovation platforms dedicated to both chemical and biological pharmaceuticals. Our diverse products including chemical drugs, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), biologics, health supplements, and medical devices, addressing a vast spectrum of therapeutic areas. We are the proud custodian of iconic brands such as “999”, “Dong-E-E-Jiao”, and “Jiangzhong”. Guided by our mission to “Safeguard Human Health and Enhance Quality of Life,” we are dedicated to evolving into a trusted, innovation-driven leader in pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.

About Dong-E E-Jiao

Dong-E E-Jiao Co., Ltd. (000423.SZ) is an enterprise engaged in the production and operation of E-Jiao and related products. As a subsidiary of state-owned China Resources Group, it is primarily involved in the R&D, production, and sales of E-Jiao and related Chinese patent medicines, health foods, and food products. The company, formerly known as Shandong Dong-E E-Jiao Factory, was established in 1952, listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1996, and joined China Resources Group in 2005. The company houses the National Gelatin Traditional Chinese Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center and a postdoctoral research workstation. It is recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise, a National Innovative Enterprise, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Heritage Enterprise, and a National Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Publicity and Education Base. Its products are sold not only in the domestic market but also in over 10 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

About AilsynBio

AilsynBio is an AI-native biotechnology company dedicated to the rational design of differentiated therapeutics. By combining artificial intelligence, physics-based modeling, and deep medicinal chemistry expertise, the company delivers end-to-end drug discovery solutions spanning novel target identification, mechanism-of-action elucidation, and lead design and optimization. Validated through collaborations with multiple top-tier pharmaceutical companies, AilsynBio’s technology offers industry-leading predictive accuracy and enables the delivery of IND-ready candidate molecules with greater efficiency, higher success rates, and a fraction of the time and cost required by conventional approaches.

The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, together with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the British Council and the ASEAN Secretariat, convened over 270 leaders, policymakers, creatives, and investors from ASEAN and the United Kingdom in Manila for the ASEAN–UK Creative Economy Symposium 2026, reinforcing the region’s push to harness the creative economy as a key driver of growth, innovation, and cultural identity.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Satvinder Singh, said:
“ASEAN is well-positioned to harness the full potential of the creative economy. Six out of eleven ASEAN Member States now rank among the top 70 globally in the WIPO Global Innovation Index’s creative outputs dimension. ASEAN recognises that intangible assets, such as intellectual property, brands, and design as the currencies of modern creative economy. The ideas, expressions, and innovations our creators produce must be protected, valued, and commercialised.”

UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, said:
“The UK and ASEAN are advancing together through trust, cooperation, and shared priorities. This partnership reflects a strong and growing relationship built on mutual respect and a shared ambition to support sustainable economic growth, innovation, and opportunity across the region. Through initiatives like the ASEAN–UK Advancing Creative Economy programme, we are deepening collaboration, strengthening people-to-people links, and supporting the development of vibrant and resilient creative sectors.”

ASEAN-focused research highlights pathways for growth in the creative economy
New research under the ASEAN–UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative is providing critical insights into the evolution and economic potential of cultural industries across the region.

Arts and Technologies in ASEAN: Interconnected Parts, commissioned by the British Council, examines the fast-growing creative technology landscape across ASEAN. Drawing on more than 60 interviews and case studies, the report explores how artists are using digital tools—from AI to immersive media—while also analysing the regulatory environments shaping innovation. It highlights both the dynamism of the sector and the need for stronger support systems to sustain growth.

Complementing this, the Regional Perception Poll on the ASEAN Creative Economy offers a comprehensive view of how the sector is understood across the region. Based on insights from over 4,000 respondents, including both producers and audiences, the study highlights the interconnected nature of creative ecosystems and the relationships between artists, industries, policymakers, and communities. Its findings underscore the need for tailored, context-specific strategies and stronger regional collaboration to unlock further growth.

Together, these research outputs provide valuable evidence to inform policy, guide investment, and strengthen UK–ASEAN partnerships.Building on this work, a new ASEAN festival research and mapping initiative is underway, expanding earlier studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the region’s diverse festival landscape and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

Country Director Indonesia and Director South East Asia, Summer Xia, said:
“Through the ASEAN–UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative, we are investing in the research, skills, and partnerships needed to support long-term growth in the creative sector. The symposium in Manila was an important opportunity to share these resources and ensure they are shaped by and for the region. By working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the ASEAN Secretariat, we are helping to build a stronger, more connected creative economy across ASEAN countries.”

Underscoring the broader vision of the initiative, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) San Lwin has reaffirmed, in separate engagements, that the ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy programme maximises the region’s creative potential to fuel socio-economic growth and cultural exchange. He reiterated the shared commitment to leveraging innovation and creativity as key connectors to drive prosperity, deepen cultural unity, advance social equity, and promote sustainable, inclusive development in order to forge an “ASEAN Community of Opportunities for All.”

Learn more at: ASEAN Creative Economy Initiative
Hashtag: #BritishCouncil

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international culture and education organisation. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories. In 2024–25, we reached 600 million people.
www.britishcouncil.org

Presented in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the initiative reflects a growing effort to spotlight Thailand’s cultural identity through contemporary retail and experiential tourism.

“KUDTHAI” — derived from the Thai word “Kud,” meaning “to carefully select” — brings together a refined selection of Thai brands, artisans, and culinary talents, highlighting craftsmanship, local wisdom, and modern design for both local and international audiences.

The inaugural “Song Wat KUDTHAI 2026,” taking place from April 9–12 at Lost in Songwat, marks the first time The Mall Group extends its retail experience beyond its flagship developments into one of Bangkok’s most talked-about neighborhoods. Once a historic trading hub along the Chao Phraya River, Songwat is now re-emerging as a vibrant cultural enclave attracting a new generation of creatives and global travelers.

Extending this experience into the city’s premier retail destinations, “KUDTHAI 2026” will also be held from April 8–19, 2026 across the EM District — Emporium, EmQuartier, and Emsphere — creating a connected journey between Bangkok’s emerging cultural quarters and its established lifestyle hubs.

This multi-location approach reflects a broader shift in how visitors experience Bangkok — moving fluidly between heritage neighborhoods and contemporary retail environments.

While Songkran remains one of Thailand’s most globally recognized celebrations, “KUDTHAI 2026” offers an alternative lens — focusing on curated cultural discovery through design, gastronomy, and local creativity.

At the EM District, the “EM District Thai Hansa Maha Songkran: A Summer of Thai Celebration” from April 10–15, 2026 further enhances the experience with immersive installations, signature water attractions, and themed markets including THAI-POP MARKET at Emporium, THAI LOCAL MARKET at EmQuartier, and THAI-TAINMENT MARKET at Emsphere.

A highlight includes “Little Song Wat,” bringing culinary names from the historic Songwat community into the heart of the city, reinforcing the connection between Bangkok’s evolving cultural districts and its modern retail landscape.

Together, these activations position Bangkok as more than a festive destination during Songkran — but also as a city redefining how tradition is experienced through innovation, culture, and commerce.
Hashtag: #KudThai2026 #SongwatKudThai #FriendsOfSongwat #bangkoksongkarn #Bangkokshopping #TheMall #EMDISTRICT

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 April 2026 – At Elite+ magazine’s 12th anniversary gala dinner on Friday, 3 April 2025, held at the Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok, Lau Yee-Wa of Hong Kong was named the inaugural Chommanard International Literary Award grand prize winner for Lau Yee-Wa’s debut novel, Tongueless. The selection was made after almost a year from the call for submissions by female authors from ASEAN member states and East Asian region, including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Nearly 70 books from 47 publishers representing 10 countries were submitted for this competition. But, for the past 15 years, Praphansarn Publishing, with the sponsorship of Bangkok Bank, has been organising the Chommanard Book Prize, which is given annually for the best book written by a Thai female writer, the winner receiving a cash prize of 100,000 baht and the publication of her book translated into English.

Mr Arthorn Techatada, the Award Program Director, explained, “After holding the Chommanard Book Prize for 15 years, it now seemed this was the right time to expand our programme to include ASEAN and China Region female writers as it is very important to promote outstanding female literary talent throughout the region and the world beyond as Asian female writers don’t get the deserved recognition, and fortunately, Bangkok Bank agreed.”

Mr Arthorn then with the assistance of Associate Professor Dr Trisilpa Boonkhachorn of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, invited and formed a panel of judges from Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, France and Germany. All were given the arduous task of reading every submission, followed by deciding on a longlist and then shortlist and country winners from which the grand prize winner would be selected.

The shortlist winners included Li Zi Shu, an award-winning Chinese language writer from Malaysia, for her book, The Age of Goodbyes; Thuận, a Vietnamese author based in Paris who writes in both Vietnamese and French, for her novel, Chinatown. She was also recognised by The New Yorker Best Books 2023. Next are the acclaimed Thai writer Veeraporn Nitiprapha, a two-time winner of the SEA Write Award for her novel, Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat; Isna Marita, an Indonesian author and Environmentalist for her first novel, Mountain More Ancient; Dr Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai of Viet Nam, who has written 13 books in Vietnamese and English, for her book, The Mountains Sing; Leila S Chudori, an award-winning journalist and novelist, for her novel, The Sea Speaks His Name; Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, a writer of fiction, essays, manga and video game scripts, for her novel, Taiwan Travelogue, and Lau Yee-Wa of Hong Kong, who studied Chinese literature and philosophy, for her debut novel, Tongueless.

The two country winners, who along with the shortlisted authors, attended over a week of activities centred around the Bangkok International Book Fair organised by PUBAT (Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand) and visits to important media organisations. They include Jemimah Wei of Singapore for her debut novel, The Original Daughter, which was a Good Morning America Book Club selection and New York Times Editors’ pick, and Marga Ortigas, an award-winning journalist from the Philippines, for her novel, The House on Calle Sombria.

When Associate Professor Dr Trisilpa Boonkhachorn, jury chairperson, announced Lau Yee-Wa as the grand prize winner, the audience and especially the shortlisted and country winners erupted in loud cheers and applause. Then, after receiving a 500,000 baht prize presented by Mr Chartsiri Sophonphanich, President of Bangkok Bank, Ms Lau Yee-Wa gave the keynote speech for the gala celebration on the topic, “Deschooling Society for Global Peace”.

Ms Lau Yee-Wa began, “I never expected to receive such an award or to have my novel translated into so many languages, including Thai. I thought the story, written in Cantonese, was too colloquial and based on such a local Hong Kong context, it would be difficult to understand.”

Later, the winning author went on, “Then, I realized I was not writing fiction. I was documenting a quiet, invisible form of violence that happened every day in the classroom, workplace and even daily life in the whole world. This violence is called deschooling, which the philosopher Ivan Illich warned us about more than 50 years ago.”

Ms Lau Yee-Wa closed by saying, “I believe that Tongueless is my own small, stubborn act of deschooling. I refused to wrap the story in comforting, official language. I let the pain, the vanity, the quiet rebellion, and the flnal demand for choice speak in their rawest form. In doing so, I rediscovered my own voice—and I hope every reader who finishes the book begins to hear theirs again.”

The guidelines for submissions for the Chommanard Book Prize for Thai writers writing in Thai and the Chommanard International Women’s Literary Award for writers from ASEAN member and China region countries will be announced in the coming months. You can find additional information by visiting the Chommanard International Women’s Literary Award website @ https://virf.io/chommanard/home or by contacting virf@elitecreative.co.th.

Hashtag: #Elite+ #ChommanardInternationalLiteraryAward

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.