RoK President vows full support for ASEAN in COVID-19 fight

Seoul (VNA) – President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in on April 14 pledged every possible support for ASEAN member nations and other countries in handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking at the online Special ASEAN+3 Summit (ASEAN countries with China, Japan and the RoK) on the COVID-19 response hosted by Vietnam, Moon stressed the necessity to offer quarantine and medical supplies in a timely manner to those in urgent need.
                        
He affirmed that his country will secure additional funding for humanitarian assistance and respond to the fullest extent possible to any calls for help from other countries, including ASEAN.

The RoK is also discussing ways to utilise the ASEAN-RoK Cooperation Fund, he said.

He voiced hope that the region will overcome the crisis at an early date by mobilising all available resources.

Moon cited trust funds at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and separate funding by the ASEAN+3 members.

Regarding the economic fallout of the pandemic, the RoK President proposed maintaining the "essential flow" of trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
                     
The RoK leader said the ASEAN+3 group can play a role as a catalyst to put global supply chains back on track, while expressing the hope that global supply chains will be made operational to the maximum extent beginning with ASEAN+3.

Moon suggested that ASEAN+3 countries explore ways to allow the cross-border travel of essential figures such as business leaders, medical professionals and humanitarian workers./.