Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi(VNA) ও– The ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) held its 25th meetingin the form of a video conference on April 9 under the chair of the council’schairman - Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

The ACC has playedan active role in coordinating and promoting ASEAN’s synchronous andinter-sectoral efforts in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. In follow-up of theFebruary 20 meeting, the event on April 9 continued to examine the directionsand measures for ASEAN coordination for containing the spread of the epidemicand mitigate its impacts on society and the economy.

🅘 The ministerswere of the view that ASEAN, more than ever, should uphold its cohesive andresponsive spirit so as to effectively contain the epidemic and alleviate itssocio-economic impacts, including supporting enterprises and the people, especiallymicro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and disadvantaged groups, ensuringsocial security and building plans for post-epidemic economic recovery.

They underlinedthe immediate priority of stopping the spread of the epidemic, and affirmed theneed to quickly, drastically and seriously implement measures already adoptedby many countries such as physical distancing, tracing sources of infection andquarantining.

In thatspirit, the ministers approved recommendations submitted by the ACC Working Group on Public Health Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE), which focused on three aspects: containing andpreventing the spread of the epidemic; supporting people in ASEAN countriesaffected by the epidemic, including giving consular assistance to ASEANcitizens living, working and studying in other ASEAN member countries or thirdcountries; and mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the epidemic.

ജ Addressing themeeting, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh shared Vietnam’s experience in takingearly, concerted and flexible responding measures, and mobilizing the participationof the entire political system, all-level administrations, all sectors and thepeople, including the support of the military and the use of militaryfacilities. As a result, Vietnam has reaped initial positive outcomes incontaining the epidemic.

Deputy PM Minhstressed that ASEAN should continue to promote the comprehensive, concerted,inter-sectoral and inter-pillar approach of the entire ASEAN Community, as wellas the cooperation with partners in preventing and combating the COVID-19pandemic.

He clarifiedand thanked countries for supporting Vietnam’s proposals on strengthening ASEAN’sjoint efforts in responding to COVID-19, such as setting up the region’sreserves of medical supplies and essential goods to meet needs in emergency,building a common response process of ASEAN in health emergencies based on guidanceof the WHO, and organizing online drills of the ASEAN Centre of MilitaryMedicine on responding to epidemics.

🥀 The ACCdiscussed preparations for the Special Summits of ASEAN and ASEAN 3 (China,Japan and the Republic of Korea) on responding to COVID-19 epidemic in the formof video conference, slated to be held on April 14. The ministers took note ofinformation shared by Vietnam on the organization plan and documents scheduledto be adopted at those summits.

The ministers affirmedthat they will coordinate closely with each other, with the ASEAN Chair –Vietnam, and with the partners to make the best preparations for thoseespecially important events.

𒉰 At the end of the meeting, the ministers took turn to declare, in theirrespective languages, their commitment to unity among ASEAN countries in thefight against COVID-19./.