Asean and US to coordinate in Covid-19 fight

A TELECONFERENCE of senior officials of Asean and the US was held to promote co-ordination between the two sides in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and public health challenges.

The event was co-chaired by Head of the Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting Vietnam Nam, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is also Chairman of the Asean Coordinating Council Working Group, and US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of

East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell.

Participants shared updated information on the developments of Covid-19, and measures to control the pandemic while confirming their commitment to strengthening co-operation in fighting the disease.

They agreed to share information and experience, provide technical assistance for one another, and exchange scientific research on ways to control and prevent infection and treat Covid-19 cases and maintain close co-ordination among their agencies in the work.

Asean member nations applauded the US for its support for them in the fight, including the United States’s assistance worth US$19mil (RM82.5mil) and its plan to support Asean in establishing a regional disease control centre.

Thy also asked the United States to co-ordinate in training medical staff and giving more scholarships to Asean students to pursue public health studies in the US.

The two sides agreed to maintain measures to ensure safety for citizens of each side that have been affected by the epidemic.

Stilwell spoke highly of Asean’s efforts and achievements in dealing with the disease.

He thanked Asean countries for creating favourable conditions for US citizens to return from epidemic areas, affirming that the US will provide support for citizens of Asean member countries in the US.

The two sides said they will co-ordinate to intensify measures to minimise the socio-economic impact caused by the pandemic, maintain open markets, stabilise the exchange of trade, services and investment, and ensure the supply of essential goods, especially medical supplies.

Dung emphasised that Asean’s proactive and timely response efforts have brought initial results in the fight.

The official also proposed co-operation orientations between Asean and the US in controlling the disease, as well as in coping with negative socio-economic impacts.