Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Senior experts from the East Asia Summit(EAS) have gathered at an online meeting to discuss cooperation orientationsin responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, co-chaired by Vietnam, as the Chair of ASEANand EAS 2020, and Indonesia as the Chair of the ASEAN SeniorOfficials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD).
The meeting was held within the framework of a joint initiative from Vietnam andIndonesia to strengthen EAS cooperation in dealing with the health crisis and futurepublic health emergencies, towards coordinating efforts to minimise the negativeeffects of the disease and promote sustainable recovery, while contributing to improvingthe EAS’s ability to effectively respond to emerging challenges in the region.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted thespirit of cohesion and proactive adaptation of ASEAN member nations and the group’sclose coordination with its partners, including the EAS, in responding promptlyand effectively to the pandemic.
He called upon EAS partners to continue active support to ASEAN initiatives incontaining the spread of COVID-19, responding to other diseases in the future,including the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and the regional medical supplies reserve warehouse, and helping ASEAN build anoverall recovery plan.
The EAS needs to continue improving its ability to respond promptly and effectivelyto emerging challenges in the region, he said.
Dung suggested participants focus on discussing and proposing practicaland specific measures to continue to improve the effectiveness of EAS cooperationin controlling and containing the pandemic, while minimising its socio-economicimpact and promoting sustainable recovery.
ASEAN’s existing efforts and initiatives along with its cooperation with EAS partnersare an important foundation for further promoting EAS cooperation towards thesegoals, he affirmed.
ASEANSOM Leader of Indonesia Ngurah Swajaya emphasised the need to enhancecooperation among countries to effectively respond to the pandemic’s increasinglycomplicated development, proposing EAS partners continue supporting ASEAN in improvinghealth capacity to respond to the pandemic and in researching and developing COVID-19vaccines and medicines.
Experts from the EAS countries welcomed the organisation of the meeting, sayingit offers an opportunity to further promote the role of the EAS in promoting effectivecooperation to respond to emerging regional challenges, especially the pandemic.
They agreed it is necessary to strengthen close coordination with and support forASEAN to effectively respond to the pandemic.
Participants also agreed to submit the results of the meeting to the 15th East Asia Summit,in November./.
VNA
