HANOI, Apr 13 (NNN-VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stood shoulder to shoulder with one another, as well as, with China, to curb the spread of COVID-19, showing their strong determination and political commitment to battle the global pandemic.
Since early this year, ASEAN countries have been holding a number of meetings, both offline and online, with the participation of high-ranking officials, including ministers and heads of state or government, to discuss measures to bolster coordination and cooperation within the block, as well as, with its partners, especially China, on fighting against COVID-19.
The Special ASEAN Summit and the Special ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN Plus Three countries or 10+3) Summit on COVID-19 Response are scheduled to take place on Apr 14, in video conference, with Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister, Nguyen Quoc Dung said.
Heads of state or government of the 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and those of the three countries, China, Japan and South Korea are expected to adopt two separate joint statements on COVID-19 response, reaffirming their high commitment and determination in eliminating the pandemic’s risks, which threaten people’s lives and socioeconomic stabilisation of the nations, Dung said.
On Thursday, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) held its 25th meeting, at which foreign ministers of ASEAN agreed to submit to heads of state or government, their recommendations regarding COVID-19 response, which focus on three aspects, he said, noting that the aspects include containing and preventing the spread of COVID-19; supporting people in the countries hit by the disease, including providing consular assistance to ASEAN citizens living, working and studying in other ASEAN nations or a third country; and minimising socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.
On Apr 7, at the end of a special video conference of the ASEAN health ministers, in enhancing cooperation on COVID-19 response, the ministers adopted a joint statement, agreeing to collectively enhance the exchange and sharing of timely data and information on COVID-19, on the prevention, detection, control and response measures, epidemiological surveillance updates, risk assessment results, epidemiological and clinical studies on the virus and the disease, and technical guidelines.
Besides, they reached consensus on enhancing cooperation within ASEAN-led mechanisms and with external partners or stakeholders in capacity building interventions, on public health emergency preparedness and response; ensuring that all persons infected by COVID-19 can access essential healthcare services; supporting the timely provision of assistance, that is critical to sustaining affected national health systems in the region, and improving the readiness of others; combating the outbreak in ASEAN, hand-in-hand with dialogue and development partners, and other regional and global entities; and continuing the collaboration in learning from regional and national experiences in responding to COVID-19 challenges.
Specifically, heads of state or government of ASEAN resolved to further strengthen the coordination of national and regional efforts in ensuring ASEAN’s readiness and responsive measures to mitigate and subsequently eliminate the threats of COVID-19; intensify timely sharing of information, experiences and best practices among ASEAN member states, between ASEAN and China, other partners, the World Health Organisation and international organisations, on the prevention, detection, and treatment of COVID-19 infections; and encourage the continued utilisation and strengthening of regional mechanisms for coordination and cooperation in response to this threat.
“We are determined to work closely and actively with ASEAN partners and the international community, to mitigate the adverse impacts of COVID-19. We pledge ASEAN’s high priority in dealing with this dangerous disease and urge the international community to support ASEAN in this effort,” read the statement.
