Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung chairs Joint Consultation Meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the SOM ASEANVietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung chaired the ASEAN SeniorOfficials' Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM), the secondmeeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Working Group on Public HealthEmergencies (ACCWG-PHE) and the Joint Consultation Meeting in Hanoi on June 22.
The online meetings were meant to prepare for the 36th ASEAN Summit and ministerial meetings slated for June 24-26, with ASEAN senior officials in the pillars of politics-security,socio-culture and economy, health officials and heads ofpermanent representative delegations to ASEAN taking part.
Representing Vietnam as ASEAN Chair2020, Deputy FM Dung updated participants on agendas of meetings and a listof documents scheduled for ratification at the ASEAN Summit.
ASEAN officials spoke highly of Vietnam’s preparations for the meetings, sayingthat under the country’s directions, such meetings will be a success.
They stressed that despite difficulties caused by COVID-19, the bloc will stay consistent with its goalsand principles, striving for a united and open ASEAN Community with rules-basedregional architecture.
Dung updated the gathering onprogress in launching priorities and initiatives during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. He also reaffirmed ASEAN’s cooperative spirit, close coordinationwith partners in the fight against COVID-19, and post-pandemic recovery.
Amid the current situation, hehighlighted the need to raise a sense of responsibility, maintain peace andstability, and prevent unilateral action that could further complicate thesituation, towards successfully curbing the pandemic.
Discussing the implementation of theoutcomes of the ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN 3 Special Summit on COVID-19 Response atthe ACCWG-PHE’s second meeting, the bloc agreedto step up the progress of four initiatives, including the ASEAN Response Fundfor COVID-19, the ASEAN Reserve on medical supplies, emergency responseguidelines, and post-COVID-19 recovery plan.
Officials called on ASEAN to focuson curbing the spread of COVID-19 and improving prevention capacity to bettercope with medical contingencies in the future.
Dung shared his concern over the secondwave of the coronavirus and urged countries to work more closely together toresume activities, especially for vulnerable groups, small and medium-sizedenterprises, among others./.
