VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

To discuss the impact of Covid-19 in the Southeast Asian region, ASEAN country leaders held a virtual ASEAN Special Summit chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday (April 14). As quoted from Channel News Asia (CNA), Vietnam at the meeting urged leaders in Southeast Asia to set up an emergency fund to tackle the coronavirus as the pandemic ravages the region's tourism and export-reliant economies.

In opening remarks via videoconference, Vietnam's premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the work of ASEAN in fighting the virus so far.

“All ASEAN members have exerted great efforts in fighting Covid-19, which has badly impacted people's life, socio-economic situation, especially the service sector, which takes 30 percent of GDP of ASEAN, challenging stability and social security. ASEAN’s efforts have brought about encouraging results, controlling the pandemic and number of infected cases among its 650 million people, which is around 15.000 cases, slower increase as compared to the global average rate. This initial result has raised our confidence but we should be vigilant, we need to be more solidarity and determined in action,” Vietnam's premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in his remarks.

On the same occasion, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that to build resilience for future economic shocks, countries in the region should have common criteria on travel and trade restrictions.

“It will be useful for ASEAN to have a set of common criteria or guidelines on when to impose travel or trade restrictions and when and how we can relax them and with what appropriate safeguards. We each have our own domestic considerations but clear guidelines would help us take a balance rational approach that takes into account both health and economic considerations. The ASEAN Coordinating Council working group on public health emergency should study this issue,” said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong 

Prime Minister Lee emphasized that ASEAN countries should maintain trade among themselves and persuade their partners to keep trade flowing. Malaysia and Singapore have kept goods flowing although Malaysia has extended its movement control order to April 28 and Singapore is in circuit breaker mode until May 4. In the meeting, the ASEAN leaders issued a declaration which proposed the establishment of a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund to boost emergency stockpiles for future outbreaks, while pledging further co-operation among member states and voicing commitment to keeping ASEAN’s markets open for trade and investment. (CNA/NK/AHM)