Hanoi (VNA) – The ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on PublicHealth Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE) reviewed cooperation within ASEAN in the fightagainst COVID-19 during its third meeting, held in the form of videoconferencing, on September 1.

Thedelegates also focused on preparations for the 27th meeting of theASEAN Coordinating Council to be held this month.

Theyhighlighted the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, and progressin the establishment of the regional warehouses of medical supplies, and thebuilding of standard operating procedures in public health emergencies.

Expressingtheir concern over the complexity of the new waves of the pandemic in the regionand the world, the delegates shared the view that the fight largely depends onvaccine and drug research.

Theyagreed to adjust regulations of the COVID-19 respond fund to make it easier forcountries to contribute to the fund, and enhance cooperation with East AsiaSummit (EAS) partner countries at the official and expert levels in thepandemic combat.

VietnameseDeputy Foreign Minister and head of SOM ASEAN-Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung calledon ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat to continue with theircoordination to promote initiatives on COVID-19 response.

Heurged completing procedures soon so as to announce the establishment of themedical warehouses at the 27th meeting of the ASEAN CoordinatingCouncil, and complete standard operating procedures in public health agenciesto be submitted to the 37th ASEAN Summit.

Regardingthe ASEAN framework recovery framework, Dung proposed the ASEAN Secretariat swiftlycomplete documents and focus on addressing the impacts of the pandemic, helpingbusinesses and people resume their normal activities, and promotingcomprehensive, sustainable recovery.

Alsoon September 1, Deputy Minister Dung attended the 12th CoordinatingConference for ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO-12) which was held inthe form of teleconferencing.

Themeeting looked into the draft mid-term review report for the ASEANPolitical-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025.

Inhis remarks, Dung highlighted achievements in the implementation of theblueprint over the past five years, with 96 percent of the 290 action plans materialised.  

He,however, pointed to challenges such as how to ensure the quality and efficiencyof the implementation, difficulties in coordination between ministries andagencies, and shortcoming in the communication work.

Theofficial suggested the meeting identify priorities and include them in theblueprint, thus ensuring political-security cooperation within ASEANeffectively adapt to emerging challenges.

Vietnam,as ASEAN Chair, will coordinate with the ASEAN Secretariat to perfect themid-term review report on the APSC Blueprint 2025 to submit it to the APSCCouncil for approval before it is sent to the 37th ASEAN Summit inNovember./.