The bloc is not immune to the virus as data shows that all the member countries have confirmed  at least 11,105 infection cases as of early April 8, an increase of 379 cases over the last 24 hours.

In Viet Nam, the patient tally reached 251 as of 5 pm on Thursday, of whom 128 have been cleared of the virus and exited hospitals, accounting for nearly half of the recovered patients in the region.

Comprehensive approach

Viet Nam has worked closely with other member countries to accelerate a comprehensive approach to improve the bloc’s capacity to cope with the pandemic as evidenced through range of moves.

On February 14, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued the Chairman’s Statement on ASEAN collective response to the outbreak of the COVID-19, in which the regional leaders committed to giving a high priority of the bloc to disease responses and called on the international community to join hands in the effort.

The above Statement demonstrated ASEAN’s highest political will and was then concretized in a series of ministerial statements on joint actions to deal with the pandemic.

As the Chair of the 41st General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41), National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan sent a letter to heads of the AIPA members on March 30.

In her letter, the Vietnamese top legislator called upon the AIPA Member Parliaments to stand side by side and join hands with the Governments in dealing  with  the pandemic. 

Initiated by Viet Nam as the Chair of ASEAN, a special meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) and a special conference of ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers on cooperation in responding to the coronavirus disease was held in Vientiane, Laos, on February 20. 

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed that ASEAN needs to promote its cohesive and responsive spirit, and intensify cooperation within the bloc as well as between the bloc and its partners for the effective response to challenges posed by COVID-19, thus mitigating negative impacts on people’s life and member countries’ development as well as the process of community building and ASEAN’s joint activities.

As proposed by Viet Nam, the first video-teleconference of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies was held on March 31, aiming to promote cooperation in the ASEAN Community to cope with the complicated developments of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Participants shared information about the situation in the ASEAN member states as well as the implementation of measures in each country since the outbreak of the pandemic.

They agreed to recommend the ASEAN Coordinating Council adopt specific actions to mobilize the aggregate strength of the ASEAN Community to curb the spread of the pandemic and mitigating its impact on the socio-economic life of the member countries.

ASEAN countries agreed to step up information and experience exchanges while increasing cooperation with partners in preventing infections and providing treatment for COVID-19 cases.

They also pledged to work together to ensure safety for medical workers who are on the front lines in the battle, while maintaining the supply of essential goods for the people and preventing fake news.

Rallying international solidarity

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh delivered a remarks at the ASEAN-EU ministerial teleconference on cooperation in coping with the epidemic on March 20. 

Mr. Minh said that Viet Nam would continue working closely with ASEAN member states, partners, the World Health Organization and the international community in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

He suggested the EU offer technical assistance and partner in scientific research on the disease control and treatment, thus mitigating its socio-economic impacts.

A High-level Interagency Video Conference on COVID-19 countermeasures was co-chaired by the Governments of the United States and Viet Nam as Co-Chairs of the ASEAN – U.S on March 31.  

In response to ASEAN’s call to strengthen health systems, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to public health assistance and its continued support for exchange programs for ASEAN medical and health professionals./.