Hanoi cleans up schools to prevent COVID-19. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi, (VNA)♒ – The following is the fulltext of the ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to theOutbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19):

The Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States express serious concerns over the outbreak of the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which poses severe challenges to the well-being of the peoples and the development of our respective countries and the region and the world;

2.      We recognise the declarationby the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 30 January 2020 that the situation isa “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC);

3.       Wereaffirm our firm commitment and resolve to ensure a peaceful and safe livingenvironment for the people, and the sustainable growth of ASEAN Member Statesand the region;  
4.       Weemphasize the importance of ASEAN solidarity and the spirit of a Cohesive andResponsive ASEAN Community in facing the outbreak of the COVID-19 and similar challenges;

5.       Weexpress our solidarity and heartfelt support for the Government and people ofthe People’s Republic of China, and for all countries around the world, in theirtremendous endeavours to address the outbreak of the COVID-19.

6.       Wenote with satisfaction on-going efforts by individual ASEAN Member State andcommend the pro-active role and timely actions taken by the ASEAN Healthsector, in collaboration with partners from the People’s Republic of China,Japan and the Republic of Korea (the Plus Three countries) in the preventionand control of the spread of the COVID-19; and welcome the encouraging outcomeof the Special Video Conference of the ASEAN Plus Three Senior OfficialsMeeting on Health Development (SOMHD) on COVID-19, held on 3 February 2020.

7.       Westress the important role of the WHO in the global campaign to control andcontain the spread of the COVID-19 and commend their efforts in addressing theoutbreak;

8.       We recognizethe critical importance of an orchestrated response and collectiveactions of ASEAN in curbing the spread of the disease;

9.       Building upon existing measures undertakenby individual ASEAN Member State and ASEAN’s regional health mechanisms, weresolve to:

         - ReaffirmASEAN’s commitment to collectively respond to the outbreak of the COVID-19;

         - Furtherstrengthen the coordination of national and regional efforts in ensuringASEAN’s readiness and responsive measures to mitigate and subsequentlyeliminate the threats of the COVID-19;

         - Intensifytimely sharing of information, experiences and best practices among ASEANMember States, between ASEAN and China, other partners, the WHO and internationalorganisations, on the prevention, detection, and treatment of the COVID-19infections;

         - Encouragethe continued utilization and strengthening of regional mechanisms forcoordination and cooperation in response to this threat;

         - Task theASEAN Health sector to establish close networking with relevant sectoral bodiesof ASEAN in the areas of consular, immigration and transportation, amongothers, to ensure a coherent and holistic approach of the ASEAN Community inresponse to the disease;

         - Task theASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) to monitor and make proper reports andrecommendations to the 36th ASEAN Summit;

         - Whileaffirming our consistent policies of maintaining our economies and our bordersopen, emphasize the need to coordinate and standardize measures to ensureproper health inspection at borders and entry points of ASEAN Member States;

      - Instructdiplomatic missions of ASEAN Member States in third countries to provide appropriateconsular assistance to nationals of ASEAN Member States in needy situations;

      - Strengthencooperation to ensure that the people in our community are rightly andthoroughly informed on the COVID-19 situation and are not being misled by disinformationpertaining to the COVID-19;

10.     We are determinedto work closely and actively with ASEAN’s partners and the internationalcommunity to mitigate the adverse impacts of the COVID-19;

11.     We pledgeASEAN’s high priority in dealing with this dangerous disease and urge theinternational community to support ASEAN in this effort./.