PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the online Special ASEAN+3 Summit on COVID-19 on April 14. (Photo: VNA) Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, has played a significantrole in initiating, organising and accelerating the online Special ASEAN+3Summit on COVID-19 on April 14, said Ling Dequan, former chief representativeof China’s Xinhua News Agency in Vietnam.
The meeting on COVID-19 response with the attendance ofleaders from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, is a timely and meaningfulevent, Ling told the Vietnam News Agency.
ASEAN member states and the three countries are friendlyneighbours and close strategic partners, he said, noting that since thepandemic broke out, the countries have stood side by side in the battle.
The summit demonstrates the resolve and will of East Asiannations in the fight against the pandemic and in efforts to maintain regionalsocio-economic development, according to Ling.
The countries exchanged viewpoints on cooperation to stemthe spread of COVID-19 and maintain economic development, thus reapingsignificant achievements in improving medical collaboration in East Asia,promoting economic and trade ties and result-orientated cooperation, andspeeding up regional economic integration.
Ling stressed that the Chinese Government and theinternational community lauded Vietnam’s role in initiating, organising andpushing for the summit.
Regarding cooperation between ASEAN and China in the fightagainst the pandemic, Ling said China has stepped up exchange and collaborationwith the grouping in this regard.
China has applied result-oriented measures at border gatesto prevent COVID-19 from spreading to neighbouring countries, thus minimisingdirect and indirect losses caused by the epidemic in ASEAN.
China attaches importance to developing relations withASEAN, enhancing strategic connectivity and promoting pragmatic cooperation, andsupports the grouping’s centrality in cooperation in East Asia, he said.
Asked about collaboration between Vietnam and China, Lingsaid the two countries have assisted each other in the combat, adding thatChina applauds the efforts and effective measures taken by the VietnameseParty, Government and people in the fight.
He suggested the two countries share measures and valuableexperience to promptly tackle the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on bilateraltrade and tourism.
Based on common perceptions reached by leaders, the twocountries have maintained their mutual trust and joined hands to elevate theirbilateral ties to a new high, Ling stressed./.
VNA
