Jakarta (VNA) - The37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, despite the constraints posed byCOVID-19, was able to bring together all the 10 ASEAN heads of Government, 10 foreignministers, and eight representatives of the bloc’s dialogue partners, KamsiahKamaruddin, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has said.

Calling the event a success,she told the Vietnam News Agency in an inclusive interview that 2020 marked anextraordinary year for ASEAN and the world as a whole.

The Malaysian diplomat underscored that Vietnam, as the Chair of the ASEAN 2020, has shown its tremendous leadershipin steering ASEAN, ensuring that the bloc continues its work, given unprecedented COVID-19 challenges.

The country spearheaded andsupported new initiatives that address the challenges faced by ASEAN and ASEANmember states during the pandemic, she noted.

According to her, themost meaningful achievement for Malaysia at the summit was the official releaseof the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), which was first proposedby Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the ASEAN PlusThree Special Summit on COVID-19 held in April this year.

 It reflectsthe bloc’s solidarity and capabilities in facing regional and global challengesbrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

The diplomat talked about theachievement of ASEAN initiatives on COVID-19, namely the COVID-19 ASEANResponse Fund, ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, and the establishmentof the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

She also highlighted thetimely conclusion and signing of the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) on November 15 on the sidelines of this annual summit,calling it a “holistic huge achievement” of the bloc and its five free tradeagreement partners – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and NewZealand./.