Asean nations voice concern over spread of Covid-19

Heads of state or government of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) expressed serious concern about the spread of Covid-19 during a Special Asean Summit which took place by video conference on April 14.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith takes part in the Special Asean Summit video conference on April 14.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith took part in the video conference on Tuesday morning, together with the heads of state or government from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The summit was chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as Vietnam is the current Chair of Asean.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the disease to be a pandemic on March 11 and the highly infectious virus has had a grave negative impact on the well-being of people and global socio-economic development.

Mr Thongloun also took part in the virtual Special Asean Plus Three Summit on Covid-19 on Tuesday afternoon, alongside heads of state or government from the 10 Asean members, China, Japan, and South Korea.

A declaration issued by the Special Asean Summit on Coronavirus Disease2019 (Covid-19) expressed deep sadness at the loss of life and the suffering caused by the pandemic.

It also commended medical professionals, healthcare workers and other frontline personnel.

Recalling the Chairman’s Statement on Asean Collective Response to the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 of February 14, Asean leaders reaffirmed their determination and commitment, in the spirit of a cohesive and responsive Asean, to remain united, and to act jointly and decisively to control the spread of the disease while mitigating its adverse impacts on people’s livelihoods, societies and economies.

The declaration said Asean leaders appreciated the extensive measures undertaken by each Asean member state and the timely efforts by the Asean health sector and other sectoral bodies of Asean, in collaboration with the bloc’s external partners and the international community, to prevent, detect, control and respond to the spread of Covid-19 and addressits severe and multi-faceted challenges.

Recognising the Asean bloc’s interconnectedness and vulnerabilities in the face of Covid-19, Asean leaders emphasised the critical importance of a coherent, multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder and whole-of-Asean Community approach in ensuring the region’s timely and effective response to the pandemic.

This could be achieved by recognising the important role of the WHO and committing to work closely with the WHO, relevant organisations and the international community towards enhancing Asean’s collective pandemic preparedness and response. 

The declaration also underscored the value of the regular and timely exchange of information and sharing of best practices among Asean member states and with Asean’s external partners in effectively responding to the pandemic.

Asean country members called for further enhancement of a caring and sharing Asean Community in which Asean member states help each other during this challenging time. 

Building upon existing efforts by individual Asean member states and those of the Asean Community, meeting participants resolved to further strengthen public health cooperation measures to contain the pandemic and protect the people, including through the timely and transparent exchange of information on real-time situations and pandemic response measures taken by member states. 

This should involve the sharing of experiences and best practices in epidemiological research and development, clinical treatment, joint research and development of vaccines and anti-viral medicines, and enhancing the capacity of the public health systems of Asean member states while protecting and ensuring the safety of public health workers.

The declaration also noted it was essential to cooperate in ensuring a social safety net for the bloc’s peoples, prevent social disruption and instability as a consequence of the negative impacts of the pandemic,  and continue efforts to design and implement risk-informed and shock-responsive social protection systems to reduce the vulnerabilities of at-risk populations and improve their overall resilience.

Asean leaders also agreed to encourage the development of a post-pandemic recovery plan to share lessons learned, restore Asean’s connectivity, tourism, normal business and social activities, and prevent potential economic downturns.

Asean pledged to remain united and vigilant against Covid-19 and to work closely with the WHO, Asean’s external partners and the international community to suppress the spread of the pandemic, protect people’s lives and livelihoods, and maintain socio-economic stability while sustaining Asean Community building momentum towards sustainable development, inclusive growth, and leaving no one behind.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update April 14, 2020) [08:03 PM]