The United Kingdom has announced it will pledge about RM26mil to strengthen Asean nations’ health systems.

THE UK announced it will commit £4.8mil (RM26mil) towards strengthening national health systems and Covid-19 prevention in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The pledge was made during a virtual meeting between Asean foreign ministers and UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab on Wednesday.

The meeting shared mutual concern about the spread of coronavirus and its adverse impacts on livelihoods and socio-economic development around the world.

In a press release, Asean member states expressed the need to strengthen cooperation between the bloc and the UK in the areas of research, development, and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and treatment, adhering to the objectives of efficiency, safety, equal accessibility and affordability.

Issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the press release said Asean encouraged the UK to support and contribute to the regional reserve of medical supplies to enable rapid responses.

Foreign minister Prak Sokhonn also reaffirmed Cambodia’s support to the UK’s application for dialogue partner status and told the meeting the two sides can work on a parallel track with trade and investment cooperation.

“(Sokhonn) expressed optimism the UK will contribute to timely access to a safe and affordable vaccine,” the press release said.

During the meeting, the UK also announced a contribution of £1mil (RM5.4mil) to the Covid-19 Asean Response Fund and £500,000 (RM2.6mil) in strategic support to the Asean Secretariat to develop and deliver effective policies to mitigate the economic impacts of Covid-19.