Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) Hanoi, (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as Chairman of ASEAN in 2020, issued astatement on ASEAN’s joint response to the outbreak of the acute respiratorydisease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in the face of complicateddevelopment of the epidemic.
The statementexpressed the concern of ASEAN leaders about the complicated development of theepidemic, which seriously impacts people’s life and the development of ASEANcountries as well as the region and the world as a whole.
Stressing the ASEAN’s solidarityand spirit of a “cohesive and responsive” community, ASEAN leaders affirmedtheir strong commitment to joining hands to control and curb the spread of the epidemic,ensuring a safe life for their people.
The statement welcomedthe efforts in the framework of ASEAN medical cooperation and cooperation withpartners (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), and underlined that ASEANwill enhance coordination at both national and regional levels, coordinatejoint work among relevant sectors for a synchronized and effective approach ofthe ASEAN Community as well as for stronger cooperation with the World HealthOrganisation, partners and international organisations in preventing andcontrolling the epidemic.
The statement alsoaffirmed solidarity and strong support of ASEAN for the tremendous efforts ofthe Government and people of China as well as the international community inresponding to the epidemic.
ASEAN countries will maintainthe open-door policy and agree to coordinate in quarantine work at border gatesof member countries, the statement said, requiring diplomatic representativeagencies of ASEAN countries in a third country to provide consular support forASEAN citizens when necessary, and cooperate to fight fake information on theCOVID-19 epidemic.
ASEAN leaders pledged to give a high priority to fighting the epidemic andcalled for joint efforts of the international community.
As part of the ASEAN’sjoint response to the COVID-19, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh, as Chairman of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC), has proposed organizingan extraordinary meeting of the ACC and coordinating with China to hold aspecial ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the occasion of the upcoming5th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting inVientiane to discuss cooperation in fighting COVID-19./.
VNA
