Jakarta (VOI News) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations-ASEAN held the commemoration of its 53rd anniversary, Saturday (8/8/2020), with a theme that focuses on ASEAN's cohesive journey to resilience. A release from the ASEAN Secretariat received by Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, Saturday, said with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ASEAN Day celebration is held online so as inviting more people around the world to watch it from their homes.

The Secretary General of ASEAN, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, in his remarks said handling the pandemic and its socio-economic impact demanding solidarity and action at all levels throughout the international community. He said that this pandemic has generated solidarity among countries in the world because no country can overcome the crisis alone.

"If there is any lesson to be learned from this COVID-19 pandemic, it is that in an interconnected world, a global crisis requires international cooperation, and no single country can wrestle any crisis alone.Tackling the pandemic and its socio-economic impact demands solidarity and action at all levels across the international community," said Dato Lim Jock Hoi in his remarks.

Dato Lim Jock Hoi also underlined the importance of ASEAN to develop a strong, holistic and pragmatic post-pandemic recovery framework to reduce socio-economic impacts, while continuing to advance regional economic integration.

The virtual ASEAN Day celebration is the first ever in the ASEAN history. The celebration also featured a keynote speech by the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. (VOI / Release ASEAN Secretariat / Youtube / AHM)