The ASEAN Special Summit and the ASEAN+3 Special Summit on COVID-19 Response will be held online in Hanoi on April 14, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

ASEAN leaders at the 35th ASEAN Summit i Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam will preside over these summits as ASEAN Chair 2020, Hang said at a press briefing in Hanoi on April 9. 

Hang said the event will help strengthen Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship role, enhance the spirit of regional cohesion and proactive response, and promote ASEAN as a strong, resilient and united community in effectively preventing and controlling the disease, mitigating its effects on socio-economic development, alongside international cooperation.