In West Java, Indonesia (Photo: Xinhua) Jakarta (VNA) – The upcoming ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Special Summits on COVID-19Response symbolise regional solidarity, said Secretary-General of ASEAN DatoLim Jock Hoi in an written Interview with the Vietnam News Agency on April 13.
He stressed that theSummits also reflect ASEAN and Plus Three Dialogue Partners’ leadership inforging regional responses to complement national and global measures againstCOVID-19.
According to the ASEAN leader, the pandemic has shown that the virus knows nonational boundaries. A collective response from the region will complement andstrengthen national and local responses.
“The Summits willalso provide for enhanced political coordination and commitment in concretisingcollective efforts from all stakeholders/sectors, to support whole-of-governmentand whole-of-health system approach with a stronger regional response inmitigating the impact of this pandemic,” he said.
Furthermore, the pandemic cannot be addressed by a one-off response. Itrequires a comprehensive long-term plan, going beyond the current containmentefforts to also focus on mitigation and recovery, he added.
“ASEAN seeks to enhance our cooperative relationships with our ASEAN Plus Threecounterparts, to find ways in which we may work together to articulate a commonunified response to COVID-19,” said Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.
“ASEAN welcomes a unified approach to tackling the far-reaching impact ofCOVID-19. We expect collective effort in partnership with our external partnersand relevant institutions on post-pandemic recovery is needed, particularly inthe most affected sectors,” he noted.
“At the strategic level, these Summitsdemonstrate ASEAN’s commitment to the principle of open-regionalism in thisdifficult time, as we realise that we are stronger together, and by workingtogether we can overcome this unprecedented challenge more effectively andefficiently”.
ASEAN also expects enhanced collaborative effort in information and knowledgesharing. Not only in the areas of medical development, but also on domesticpolicies related to social and health security given the vast impact ofCOVID-19 on communities, he added./.
He stressed that theSummits also reflect ASEAN and Plus Three Dialogue Partners’ leadership inforging regional responses to complement national and global measures againstCOVID-19.
According to the ASEAN leader, the pandemic has shown that the virus knows nonational boundaries. A collective response from the region will complement andstrengthen national and local responses.
“The Summits willalso provide for enhanced political coordination and commitment in concretisingcollective efforts from all stakeholders/sectors, to support whole-of-governmentand whole-of-health system approach with a stronger regional response inmitigating the impact of this pandemic,” he said.
Furthermore, the pandemic cannot be addressed by a one-off response. Itrequires a comprehensive long-term plan, going beyond the current containmentefforts to also focus on mitigation and recovery, he added.
“ASEAN seeks to enhance our cooperative relationships with our ASEAN Plus Threecounterparts, to find ways in which we may work together to articulate a commonunified response to COVID-19,” said Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.
“ASEAN welcomes a unified approach to tackling the far-reaching impact ofCOVID-19. We expect collective effort in partnership with our external partnersand relevant institutions on post-pandemic recovery is needed, particularly inthe most affected sectors,” he noted.
“At the strategic level, these Summitsdemonstrate ASEAN’s commitment to the principle of open-regionalism in thisdifficult time, as we realise that we are stronger together, and by workingtogether we can overcome this unprecedented challenge more effectively andefficiently”.
ASEAN also expects enhanced collaborative effort in information and knowledgesharing. Not only in the areas of medical development, but also on domesticpolicies related to social and health security given the vast impact ofCOVID-19 on communities, he added./.
VNA
