Via the Bangkok Post: Thailand to use Chinese expertise.

Thailand will adopt Chinese technology to develop an influenza vaccine, part of the national bird flu preparedness plan, said Medical Sciences Department chief Paijit Warachit yesterday. Mr Paijit, who chairs the influenza and bird flu vaccine preparation committee, said the committee had reached the conclusion on Tuesday that it would work with a Chinese firm, Sinovac Biotechnology, in the construction of a vaccine manufacturing plant here.

The project would cost more than 400 million baht, he said, adding that the plant would also be able to produce a bird flu vaccine for humans in the future.

The committee earlier asked a number of foreign partners to co-invest in the influenza vaccine production, but could not settle the deal because they wanted to invest in the production themselves and required Thailand to buy up to 10 million doses of the vaccine, outnumbering domestic needs, Dr Paijit said.

The committee decided to enter into the joint venture with Sinovac Biotechnology because the firm was willing to transfer technology to Thailand, he said.