As countries globally strive to make every effort to recover their economies and regain growth momentum, the world is set to become a very different in social conduct and international relations. This is the perspective of a foreign diplomat, the Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Løchen, who shared her views in a recent interview with the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Løchen

Following are key translated excerpts capturing the gist of the interview:

VOV: The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in more than 200 countries, which has led to significant changes in the behavior of each nation, as well as each of the people around the world. How do you think about this situation?

Ambassador Grete Løchen: Xin chào (Hello) Thank you, the Radio Voice of Vietnam, for giving me this opportunity. First of all, I would like to commend Vietnam for its tireless efforts to fight the COVID-19 and to ensure the health and safety of its citizens and international guests. You have more than 300 cases so far, and the majority has already recovered and no fatalities. These numbers are really impressive. 

We are all living through challenging times these days. Globally, more than 4 million people are infected and 300,000 deaths. In my country, Norway, there are over 8,000 infection cases and over 200 deaths.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis, it is also an economic and social crisis. Millions of people have been losing their jobs, businesses are closing down, and the global economy is slowing down. This virus knows no borders. It hits us all. However, we all know that the vulnerable people such as elderly, the sick, the poor, migrants, refugees and people with disabilities are at more risk than anyone. 

The majority of the pandemic’s front liners are women. At the same time, domestic violence and sexual and gender-based violence increases. In many ways, COVID-19 is also a conflict multiplier in our homes and in our societies.  

Therefore, when we look at measures to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to take gender into account and protect the rights of women and girls.

VOV: The world has experienced many horrific pandemics such as cholera, typhoid, plague, and recently Ebola and SARS, but never before any pandemic has led to a crisis with such large scale and scope as COVID-19 does. According to Ambassador, what lesson should the world learn to prepare for similar pandemics that may happen in the future? 

Ambassador Grete Løchen: Yes, you are right. The pandemic has led to a multidimensional global crisis in both scale and scope. It also shows us how interdependent and interconnected we all are. It shows the importance of international solidarity and joint efforts. No country is alone; global challenges need global solutions. 

Strong international and multilateral cooperation is more important than ever with a strong global leadership. It is important to deal with crisis in a transparent and responsible manner. This is how we build trust both nationally and internationally.

As you well know, Norway is a strong supporter of multilateralism and a rule based international order.  It is our best protection. A strong and efficient United Nations with the World Health Organization in the front line should play a leading role internationally to combat the virus. That is why Norway has provided additional funds to WHO and has taken the initiative to establish a new global multidonor trust fund to assist more vulnerable countries with weaker health systems and economies. 

I am very pleased to see UN Secretary General António Guterres was able to launch the new trust fund on 31 March. Norway has already committed funds, NOK 150 million (USD 14.5 million) as a first contribution.

For many years Norway has been supporting different global health initiatives. In these Covid-19 times, Norway has provided additional funds to Covid-19 research and the development and distribution of vaccines through Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), NOK 2.2 billion (USD209 million), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, NOK 10.25 billion (USD 1 billion). In order to fight the virus, it is vital that the vaccines and diagnostic tools must be made available to all.

VOV: Since the national interest is always on top priority, during the pandemic phase, some countries have to implement unwanted situational measures.  Do you think the pandemic has affected international relations, and how can you visualize it in the post-pandemic future? 

Ambassador Grete Løchen: During crisis, the first priority of any country would be to safeguard lives and safety of its own citizens. We have seen many countries including Norway and Vietnam closing their borders, restricting entries, suspending flights, closing schools and having different quarantine arrangements. These decisions affect a lot of people and many are and will be upset. However, these decisions are necessary and well understood.

We are all asking the same questions these days - how will this end and when we will be back to normal. Much remains uncertain. We have all experienced losses, human losses, economic losses and social losses. However, we also see opportunities.

I would like to share with you a story of a Norwegian fashion designer. She has stopped making fashionable dresses and instead making fashionable and colourful facemasks for ordinary citizens. Today we see people all over the world being innovative and creative in different ways.

We are all experiencing new working methods: home office, zoom meetings, webinars and online events. This is the new normal! I do think this will continue post Covid-19. It is in many ways more climate friendly. We will travel less, we can cut costs and cut emissions.

The international agenda has also changed. These days it is all about COVID-19 response and recovery. For Vietnam as the chair of ASEAN 2020, this must be very challenging. I am very encouraged to see that Vietnam has been able to adjust its ASEAN agenda to include regional cooperation and responses to COVID-19. And I would like to reiterate once again the importance of strong multilateral institutions in order to fight global challenges like COVID-19.

VOV: What do countries in the world need to pay attention to maintaining a harmonious atmosphere and to create conditions for post-COVID cooperation and development?

Ambassador Grete Løchen: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in many ways. It is a wakeup call for cooperation in all areas and at all levels: nationally, regionally and internationally. It is all about solidarity.

When many countries are entering into the recovery phase and gradually opening up, like Vietnam and Norway, it is important for governments to seize the opportunities to develop inclusive recovery policies and to take into account the interests of vulnerable groups in order to leave no one behind.

Another takeaway is the importance of open and transparent information sharing by governments and others, which is key in order to build trust nationally and internationally.

Finally, I would like to quote my Prime Minister Erna Solberg – We are in this together and we will get through this together!

VOV : Thank you so much for the interview.