Jakarta (VNA) – Under Vietnam’s chairmanship, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has effectively implemented cooperation and connectivity targets, whileovercoming difficulties to earn initial successes in preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, and embarking on efforts for post-pandemic recovery, saidAmbassador Tran Duc Binh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN.
The ambassador was addressing an online seminar on the theme of cohesive and responsive ASEAN in the new normal period, whichwas held in Jakarta on August 8 as part of activities to mark the bloc’s 53rd founding anniversary.
Binh held that the way ASEAN has coped with the pandemic showeda cohesive and responsive association with resilience against hardships. “More than ever before, we understand the significance of ‘thinkcommunity, act community’,” Binh stressed.
ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Socio-CulturalCommunity Kung Phoak recalled the utmost goal of the ASEAN Community is to support people. He said that one of the greatest challenges facing theassociation is impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of people.
He noted that the pandemic started as a health crisis that hasrapidly turned into a socio-economic crisis and even a security crisis to some extent. A scenario drawn by the World Bank showed that the world economy willdecline 5 percent this year, pushing 71 million people into extreme hunger andpoverty.
Dr. Yang Mee Eng, Executive Director of the ASEANFoundation, held that the COVID-19 pandemic is posing socio-economicchallenges and causing subsequent adverse impacts.
She held that investment in public health, social welfare andeconomic stimulus is necessary for countries to gain quicker recovery.
Alongside, speeding up digital transformation is also among solutions to ensurethat ASEAN always stays cohesive and responsive in the new normal period, shesaid.
Dr Yang underlined that a single country could not overcome this unprecedentedperiod by itself and the crisis requires strong solidarity and cooperation inthe global scale.
Normal methods are not enough, she stated, adding thatcooperation and coordination are among important measures to help ASEAN to become stronger than ever, she added./.