Vietnam leads regional pandemic response as ASEAN chair

Vietnam successfully chaired the Special ASEAN +3 Summit on Covid-19 in mid-April

The success of the special ASEAN+3 Summit with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on the Covid-19 response in April is a typical example.

The joint statements of the participating states demonstrated ASEAN’s highest-level commitment to a collective response to the outbreak of Covid-19, in the spirit of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN, supporting the multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder, community approach to address the multi-faceted challenges posed by Covid-19. The 10 ASEAN members and their three partners reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen solidarity, enhance cooperation and mutual support in controlling and containing the spread of the pandemic, and addressing its adverse impact on societies and economies.

Vietnam also attended the G20 health ministers’ meeting via a video conference on Covid-19 prevention and control. Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong shared the experience in Covid-19 control in Vietnam. Cuong noted the country had set up a national steering committee for Covid-19 prevention during the early stages of the outbreak with strong commitment of the entire political system, the Government and the public, appealing for national unity against the pandemic with the motto of “fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy”.

Vietnam has been applying four strategies in tackling the epidemic – prevention, early detection, quarantine and treatment. It also implemented early measures to prevent transmission from abroad while effectively identifying and controlling transmissions within the country.

The official also told participants of the G20 meeting that despite its limited resources, Vietnam had collaborated with partners in different spheres to improve testing, research, investigation and treatment for the most effective outcomes.

The G20 health ministers, officials of international organizations like the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union and countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Japan pledged millions of dollars for the Covid-19 battle, including vaccine research and improving health care system capacity.

The ministers and their representatives delivered speeches stressing the goal of ensuring patient safety and responding globally to medical emergencies. France’s health minister emphasized that no one would be left behind in this battle and that with the UN's role, the world would overcome this crisis together.

As the rotating Chair of ASEAN while also acting as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Vietnam has made great efforts to improve responsive capability: timely sharing of information on identification and treatment of Covid-19, health monitoring in border areas, consular assistance for ASEAN citizens in need.

An ASEAN research team, composed of senior health, diplomatic, defense, immigration, and transport officials, was set up to respond quickly and on a timely basis to the pandemic. Policy coordination measures adopted by ASEAN countries include strengthening ASEAN’s capacity in public health emergencies, establishing a regional stockpile of medicines and setting up a general pandemic responsive fund. These efforts demonstrated Vietnam’s high degree of responsibility, cooperation and solidarity, especially its determination to maintain economic, trade and investment cooperation in the region.