VN upholds ASEAN Chair in COVID-19 response

The nation has timely shifted the agenda to disease prevention with effective proposals and initiatives. 

In addition, it was in the spotlight in the fight against COVID-19 and was praised by the international community. 

In early 2020, ASEAN coped with the biggest threat since its formulation in 1967 as the member states imposed travel restrictions in a bid to prevent importation of COVID-19 but still sustained cooperation. 

As the ASEAN Chair for 2020, Viet Nam cooperated with other ASEAN member states to pursue the ‘dual goals’ of combating the COVID-19 pandemic and building the bloc’s community.

A remarkable event was the organization of the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 initiated by Viet Nam, during which the regional leaders agreed on the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. 

ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted that Viet Nam has shown ‘strong leadership vision’ in leading regional collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Viet Nam also emerged as a success story in the fight against COVID-19. Despite inadequate resources, the country has pursued an effective strategy that incorporated drastic responses made by the Government and a high sense of responsibility upheld by the people./.

By Kim Anh