A virtual symposium on this subject considered that an essential mission to reach such an objective is to speed up and conclude vaccination campaign in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member nations.

Participants analyzed the epidemiological situation in each ASEAN member nation (Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and weighed an array of individual or joint actions to minimize the impact of the pandemic.

Vietnamese and foreign experts told the workshop that COVID-19 responding solutions and economic stimulus packages have also been sought with the hope to end negative measures of lockdown and social distancing and speeding up economic recovery.

Regarding joint actions, experts told setting up a Regional Response Fund to Covid-19 and facilitating intra-regional flow of pivotal medical supplies and equipment to fight the disease, as well as restoring trade, tourism, investment and cooperation as soon as possible.

Given its close contacts with China, Southeast Asia was among the first regions to be hit by the pandemic. ASEAN member nations´ economies were hit hard in 2020 and so far in 2021 there are hardly any signs of recovery.

To date, Covid-19 cases in ASEAN nations exceed 3.8 million and 76.000 deaths.

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