Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh has written an article on ASEAN’s cooperation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following is the full text of the article.
ASEAN’s cooperation to combatCOVID-19
The world is fighting an uphill battle to escape aglobal crisis, which has been unprecedented since the Second World War. Thisworst crisis stemmed from a virus that is miniscule in size, yet transboundaryin nature, able to spread to every corner around the globe, threatening thelives of every person, every community, and the shared future of humanity as awhole.
Combating this pandemic is aresponsibility shared by all countries, governments, and regional and globalmechanisms. In Southeast Asia and around the world, governments and citizensalike are taking resolute actions to fight this common adversary. In particular,ASEAN member states have offered assistance to one another, and facilitated thehighest level of support for ASEAN citizens within their respective territory.This bears testament to the ever more critical role of solidarity, andinternational cooperation to a further extent.
Given its centrality in the region,ASEAN provides a common shelter for its member states to weather the storm ofCOVID-19. Throughout our history of development over the past five decades, wheneverchallenged or faced with a crisis, weemerge stronger. This time is no difference. ASEAN shall continue this time-testedvalue and fulfill its mission to support its member states during thiscircumstance of utmost hardship.
Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair,and otherASEAN member states have identified the theme of “Cohesive and ResponsiveASEAN” for 2020 with the aim of kicking into high gear the ASEAN Community building,and promoting ASEAN’s role in a world filled with uncertainties. The suddenoutbreak of the SARS-COV-2 virus, and the unprecedented consequences and turbulencesthat followed, testified to the relevance of this theme and course of action.
Since the early days of the outbreak, Vietnam,together with ASEAN, has demonstrated quick and timely responsiveness, andcohesiveness in policy and action coordination among all member states. OnFebruary 14, we issued the ASEAN Chair Statement on ASEAN’s joint response toCOVID-19. This was followed by a number of important Ministerial-level meetingson healthcare, economy and defense to ensure coordinated actions in combatingthe pandemic. ASEAN has also hosted various meetings with its dialoguepartners, including China, the EU and the US and important internationalorganizations, such as the World Health Organizations (WHO), to exchangeexperience, provide mutual assistance and seek effective responses.
ASEAN does not stand apart from theworld. The well-being of our people and the performance of our economies areclosely linked to the East Asian region and the world. Countries in our regionhave all suffered severe consequences from COVID-19. However, we have madeevery effort to combat this pandemic, and accumulated valuable experiences tobe shared with others. Most notable examples would be enforcing early detection,implementing quarantine and social distancing, requesting the public to wearfacemasks, raising awareness and encouraging people’s participation.
Vietnam has engaged in variousinternational cooperation endeavours to tackle COVID-19 in such forums as theG-7, G-20 and the United Nations. We believe strongly in a more robust andunited international response, and in that connection, ASEAN’s efforts andinitiatives are of great significance. On April 14, Vietnam will host theSpecial ASEAN and ASEAN Plus Three (with China, Japan and the Republic ofKorea) Summit on COVID-19 where leaders shall elaborate actions and initiativesto further enhance cooperation in winning the war against the pandemic, andensuring the region’s dynamic and sustainable development in the long run.
Based on our exchanges and experienceto date, ASEAN and its partners should focus on a number of measures inresponding to and repelling COVID-19:
First, urgently muster common resources, particularly the region’smedical equipment stock to meet emergency needs; establish a cooperation fund for counteringthe COVID-19 pandemic while utilizing existing resources and assistance frompartners, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
Second, raise the effectiveness of coordinatingpolicies and actions on the basis of a common framework, focusing on buildingan ASEAN common approaching pandemic-related situations, and in the immediate,organize online drills on pandemic response between countries.
Third, understand that battling the pandemic must go hand in hand withbattling economic recession and social instabilities, in which the people areplaced at the heart. No country should be left alone and no one should be leftbehind in this battle.
Fourth, develop a COVID-19 exitstrategy in each country and forge regional coordination for the early suppressionof the pandemic and bringing countries’ socio-economic activities back to theirnormal and stable state.
Fifth, uphold and adhere to the common values on free trade, investmentfacilitation, avoiding the disruption of supply chains; quickly normalize tradeactivities and cross-border transport once the pandemic is put under control,so that all engines are utilized for inclusive and sustainable socio-economicrecovery and development in the region.
Now more than ever, we understand the importance of think Community andact Community. It is incumbent upon ASEAN to capitalize on its centrality toplay a meaningful role in ensuring the post-pandemic region and world ofcontinued integration, greater prosperity and sustainable development.
In the past three months, Vietnam’s efforts as the ASEAN Chair havereflected the spirit of cohesiveness and responsiveness. With the unity amongASEAN member states and the support and close cooperation of partners, Vietnamis confident that ASEAN will join the region and the world to emerge triumphant from thispandemic./.
VNA
