[Full Text] Joint Statement of the ASEAN+3 Special Summit on COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jung-min] April 14, 2020. Joint Statement of the ASEAN+3 Special Summit on COVID-19

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea held the ASEAN+3 (APT) Special Summit on COVID-19 via video conference on April 14, 2020. The summit was chaired by Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair.

Deeply concerned about the unprecedented serious challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the welfare, livelihoods, and safety of our peoples, as well as the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the socio-economic development of our countries and the world,

Expressing deep condolences and sympathy for the loss of lives and suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,

Recognizing the exponential spread and severity of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020,

Emphasizing our gratitude and support for all medical professionals, health workers, and frontline responders who have worked tirelessly to save lives and combat COVID-19,

Recognizing the importance of public participation in preventing and controlling COVID-19,

Welcoming the measures taken by international financial institutions (IFIs) to utilize and enhance their instruments to support countries in need in response to the urgent demands of their member states,

Supporting the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for all countries to respond decisively, innovatively, and collectively to contain the virus and address the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19,

Noting the commitment by G20 leaders to stand united against the common threat of COVID-19 as stated in the “Joint Statement of the G20 Special Virtual Summit” on March 26, 2020,

Emphasizing the important role of the WHO in the global campaign to control and suppress the spread of COVID-19, recognizing the importance of implementing health measures under the International Health Regulations (2005), and stressing the need for universal health coverage (UHC) to address public health issues such as COVID-19,

Recognizing the important role of ASEAN+3 cooperation for peace, security, and prosperity in East Asia, emphasizing the importance of health cooperation and existing mechanisms in addressing public health issues, including our successful partnership in responding to the 2003 SARS pandemic,

Appreciating the timely and proactive joint efforts of the ASEAN+3 health cooperation platform and the three countries of Korea, China, and Japan in responding to the early stages of COVID-19,

Welcoming and noting the encouraging outcomes of the ASEAN+3 Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD) Special Virtual Meeting on February 3, 2020, the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Special Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 on March 20, 2020, and the ASEAN+3 Health Ministers’ Special Virtual Meeting on Enhancing Cooperation on COVID-19 on April 7, 2020,

Recognizing decisions to reschedule numerous major events including the Olympic and Paralympic Games,

Welcoming the “ASEAN Chair Statement” and the “Special ASEAN Summit Declaration on COVID-19” issued on February 14, 2020, which demonstrated ASEAN’s highest-level commitment to a united response to the COVID-19 outbreak under the spirit of ASEAN solidarity and response, and supporting ASEAN’s whole-of-community approach involving various sectors and stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges posed by COVID-19,

Reaffirming our shared commitment to strengthen solidarity, enhance cooperation and mutual support among ASEAN+3 countries to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our societies and economies and to suppress and control the spread of the infectious disease,

Accordingly, we hereby resolve as follows.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

1. Strengthen regional early warning systems for pandemics and other regional infectious diseases, share experiences and best practices, and enhance mutual technical support in clinical treatment of cases and prevention, suppression, and control of infections, while regularly, timely, and transparently sharing real-time information on infectious disease outbreaks and national measures to combat COVID-19.

Also, support strong, joint, and coordinated responses to COVID-19 suppression measures and treatment and control efforts that can have synergistic effects, as proposed in national risk assessments, regular reports on the risk of international spread of COVID-19 within ASEAN, and policy and strategic issues discussed in the ASEAN+3 SOMHD, as well as technical matters addressed by the ASEAN Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Network, commensurate with the severity and future trends of diseases in member states and the region.

2. Enhance national and regional capacities to respond to and prepare for pandemics. This includes protecting healthcare workers and frontline responders, and ensuring the adequate provision of medicines and medical supplies, especially diagnostic tools, personal protective equipment, and medical devices, in compliance with standards of performance, safety, and accessibility.

3. Consider establishing an ASEAN+3 stockpiling system for essential medical supplies to enable rapid response in emergencies. Encourage the utilization of existing regional emergency stockpiles such as the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) stockpile facilities, and further consider the use of the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).

4. Support ongoing regional joint efforts in the ASEAN+3 health cooperation sector and ASEAN to enhance capacities for prevention, detection, and response to public health threats by utilizing existing mechanisms such as the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), the ASEAN Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Network, and the ASEAN BioDiaspora Virtual Center.

5. Promote science-based responses to combat COVID-19 by leveraging and actively sharing digital technologies and innovations. Also, strengthen scientific cooperation in epidemiological research, including coordinated efforts involving the private sector for the rapid research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of diagnostics, antiviral medicines, and vaccines under goals of efficiency, safety, equity, accessibility, and affordability, and utilize the ASEAN+3 Field Epidemiology Training Network (FETN).

6. Encourage mutual support and cooperation between ASEAN and the three countries of Korea, China, and Japan in capacity building and human resource development in public health, including support for improving health facilities for infection prevention and control, training public health personnel, and providing scholarships to ASEAN students studying related scientific fields at educational and training institutions in Korea, China, and Japan, and strengthen national health systems.

7. While extra-regional partners of ASEAN may provide additional support, strive to secure adequate financing to control infectious diseases and protect regional populations, including establishing a “COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund for Public Health Emergencies” by reallocating funds from existing ASEAN+1 and ASEAN+3 cooperation funds.

8. Facilitate the smooth movement of people at appropriate levels, uphold the dignity, health, welfare, and safety of those affected by COVID-19, and ensure they receive fair and effective treatment. Enhance cooperation to provide appropriate assistance and support to the most vulnerable populations among ASEAN+3 nationals, especially those residing, working, or studying in neighboring countries within the region.

9. Strengthen efforts to promote effective public communication involving various media, including timely updates on relevant government policies, public health and safety information, correction of misinformation and fake news, and efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination.

10. Reaffirm the commitment to keep markets open for trade and investment, and enhance cooperation among ASEAN+3 countries to ensure food security, including utilizing the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).

Also, promote cooperation among ASEAN+3 countries to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of regional supply chains, especially for essential goods such as food, commodities, medicines, and medical supplies. Develop measures to ensure the smooth operation of logistics networks.

In implementing the above measures, confirm that public health emergency responses should be specific, proportionate, transparent, and temporary, should not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disrupt regional supply chains, and must comply with WTO rules.

11. As part of our efforts to combat COVID-19 and minimize socio-economic impacts, encourage maintaining essential regional connectivity by facilitating the movement of essential personnel such as businesspeople to the extent possible while ensuring public health safety.

12. Reaffirm our commitment to strengthen joint efforts to promote post-pandemic recovery, economic development, and financial resilience, restore growth, connectivity, and the tourism industry, maintain market stability, and prevent potential risks of economic recession.

13. Implement appropriate and necessary measures proactively and in a united manner to support people and businesses affected by COVID-19, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and vulnerable groups, and to enhance market confidence through stimulus policies, thereby promoting regional economic stability and resilience. Also, utilize technology and digital trade to help businesses, especially MSMEs, maintain operations.

14. Strengthen efforts to stabilize the production and supply of essential goods and services such as essential medicines and important agricultural products, maintain the essential flow of goods and services, and sustain regional and external supply chain connectivity by forming more resilient, sustainable, and less externally vulnerable supply chains for economic development. Also, reaffirm our commitments as outlined in the 2019 Joint Leaders’ Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

15. Closely monitor potential risks to regional financial stability, develop close regional financial cooperation and policy coordination, and support the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office’s (AMRO) functions of monitoring regional economic and financial trends, timely risk assessment, and policy recommendations. Also, reaffirm our commitment to the operation of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) as a reliable component of the global financial safety net and the regional financial safety net.

16. While protecting the welfare of our peoples and sustaining growth and addressing the serious socio-economic challenges of COVID-19, encourage public-private partnerships (PPP) and whole-of-society approaches to combat the pandemic, and pledge to cooperate closely with the WHO, relevant agencies, and the international community.

17. Maintain preparedness and vigilance to take any additional measures as necessary.

18. Based on close cooperation with relevant sectoral bodies within the ASEAN+3 framework, assign ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers as key coordinators to review the implementation of commitments and agreements emphasized in this statement.

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