Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) addresses Special ASEAN Summit (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will continue supporting countries hit by the COVID-19pandemic, maintain normal economic activities with them, and provide them with basicnecessities, including food, as needed, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said whenaddressing the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 held online on April 14.
The PM spoke highly ofASEAN member states’ joining hands with Vietnam in responding to the pandemic fromthe very early days.
He appreciated theirbacking of Vietnam’s proposals, such as establishing the ASEAN COVID-19 ResponseFund, setting up a reserve for medical supplies to meet urgent needs during epidemics,organising an online drill of defence forces, and setting up a task force of seniorASEAN information officials to combat fake news.
PM Phuc emphasised theneed for ASEAN to support those affected, work together in mitigating the virus’simpact on socio-economic development, and propose measures to speed up economic recovery.
ASEAN leaders also expressedtheir political commitment to fighting COVID-19.
They said jointefforts by the bloc have seen encouraging initial results, with the number of infectionsin the region being much lower than elsewhere.
They also affirmed thatthe top priority of the bloc at this moment is to control and prevent the spreadof the disease, in particular tackling cross-border infections.
ASEAN needs to take actionto minimise the socio-economic impact, protect local people, and support micro, small,and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The leaders also discussedmeasures to facilitate economic recovery, including strengthening intra-bloc trade,speeding up negotiations over economic cooperation agreements, and implementingeconomic stimulus packages.
Concluding the teleconference, the leaders adopted the Declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19./.
VNA
