Hanoi (VNA) 𒉰- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh on April 23 affirmed that Vietnam will enhance its cooperation with other countries,including the US, as well as the World Health Organisation and the internationalcommunity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the online Special ASEAN - US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting onCOVID-19, Minh informed participants of the measures undertaken by the Vietnamese Government and the initial positiveresults. He stressed that ASEAN has shown great political determination and increasedcoordination in a responsive and cohesive spirit. The US, he suggested, could offer technical support and cooperation inepidemiology studies and treatment, ensuring the interests of ASEAN citizens andmitigating the pandemic’s impact on socio-economic development. The official also called on countries to pay attention to issues regarding peace,regional security, stability, solidarity, trust building, and law abidance. Sharing concerns over the complex developments of COVID-19, foreignministers from ASEAN and the US shared their experience in fighting the pandemic,reached a consensus on countermeasures, and vowed to work closely together onother regional and global issues. They agreed to step up information and experience sharing, policycoordination, and capacity building in the future to deal with contingencies. They also highlighted the need for the early availability of vaccinesand treatment medicines while ensuring that countries have equal access tovaccines. Officials vowed to exert every effort to ease the socio-economic toll,guarantee price stability, and maintain regional and global supply chains,especially in essential goods. Discussions also focused on long-term economic recovery measures via thePartnership on Regional Cooperation Optimisation (PROSPECT) and the Inclusive Growth in ASEAN through Innovation, Trade and E-Commerce (IGNITE)programmes. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his government has committedover 500 million USD in emergency assistance for the global fight againstCOVID-19, focusing on improving the capacity of labs, control, and rapidresponse. The US also announced several initiatives, such as theASEAN - US Health Futures and the ASEAN - US Network of Medical Experts, andsupport for ASEAN and its Secretariat to build infrastructure for epidemiccontrol in the region. The ASEAN side hailed the US for providing the bloc withover 35.3 million USD for anti-pandemic efforts. It proposed the country actively back ASEANinitiatives such as the establishment of a COVID-19 response fund and medicalequipment reserves for emergency cases. As countries are pooling resources for the fight,ministers highlighted the need to maintain a rules-based order in the region,ensuring peace, stability, security, and law abidance in the region, and strengtheningtrust and transparency to prevent further complicating the situation./.