Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 3 attended G20 Foreign Ministers’ extraordinary meeting on strengthening international cooperation across borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh addresses G20
Foreign Ministers’ extraordinary meeting on strengthening international
cooperation across borders, on August 3, 2020. Photo: VGP

 Viet Nam was invited to the meeting as the country is current ASEAN Chair.

Addressing the event, Minh appreciated the initiative of Saudi Arabia, the G20 President, in organizing the meeting on this critical matter.

He said solidarity, cooperation and coordination at the global and regional level are “more crucial now than ever” to overcome the global public heatlh crisis of such scale and complexity.

Through its economic and technological capacity, the G20 has made important contributions to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and cushioning of its socio-economic impact. 

“As the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Viet Nam has worked closely with partners in the spirit of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN. We have put forth initiatives to promote a joint response to combat the pandemic, provide assistance to the people and foster economic recovery, Minh said.

He urged G20 countries to continue taking the lead with innovative actions, joined by the international community and institutions to expidite the research and development of effective and safe vaccines and antiviral drugs for COVID-19, while ensuring that every citizen shall have equitable access to affordable vaccines.

ASEAN is currently discussing the possibility of establishing an ASEAN Travel Corridor
to facilitate movement for officials and essential business travellers in compliance
with health protocol. Photo: VGP

He called for promoting cooperation in border management, including sharing of information and experience, ensuring health safety measures at the border checkpoints, applying technologies to discover and trace cases, and illegal migration. 

ASEAN is currently discussing the possibility of establishing an ASEAN Travel Corridor to facilitate movement for officials and essential business travellers in compliance with health protocol, according to Minh. 

In this regard, the G20 could work together with international organizations and other countries to advance discussion on a Code of Conduct or Roadmap for cooperation in border management and international travel facilitation.

Minh also expressed his hope that all countries would maintain their commitment to an open market, cross-border trade and investment facilitation, and the maintenance of global and regional supply chains, especially for essential goods, food and medical equipment.

In addition, Minh stressed that it is important to enhance cooperation in capacity-building to prepare for and respond to future non-traditional security challenges, such as contagious epidemics and cyber-security issues./.