Moon discusses virus measures with ASEAN, China, Japan

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a video conference with leaders from ASEAN members as well as China and Japan at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Do Je-hae

President Moon held a video conference with leaders from China, Japan and the 10 ASEAN countries, Tuesday, to discuss a joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the emergency meeting of the ASEAN+3 nations, Moon made three proposals to raise the effectiveness of anti-virus measures and strengthen policy coordination among them.

He underlined that active bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be essential to provide quarantine and medical supplies in a timely manner to those in urgent need. "Korea will secure additional funding for humanitarian assistance and respond to the fullest extent possible to any calls for help from other countries, including ASEAN," Moon said.

"We are also discussing ways to utilize the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund. I hope we can overcome the COVID-19 crisis together by mobilizing all the resources at our disposal, including the assistance made through trust funds at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as funding pooled at the ASEAN+3 level."

In addition, the South Korean leader proposed measure to increase dialogue on health cooperation. "We must strengthen regional health cooperation mechanisms to actively share and utilize the information and clinical data that each country has accumulated. To that end, I propose establishing an ASEAN-ROK Health Ministers Dialogue Channel, in addition to the ASEAN+3 Health Ministers Meeting."

He also proposed the "ASEAN-ROK Web Seminars," for sharing COVID-19 quarantine policies and experiences and holding roundtables with health experts and companies to step up efforts to develop vaccines and treatments.

Thirdly, he stressed the need to maintain essential human exchanges among countries to minimize the negative repercussions on the global economy.

"We must maintain the essential flow of economic and people to people exchanges, trade, investment and food," Moon said. "Furthermore, to the extent that we do not undermine each country's quarantine efforts, I propose that we seek ways to allow for the travel of essential persons such as business leaders, medical professionals and humanitarian workers."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc were among the participants. Vietnam is the chair of the ASEAN meetings this year.

The leaders vowed closer cooperation to deal with COVID-19 in a joint statement adopted after the meeting. "The joint statement contains the members states' coordinated responses, such as sharing information quickly and transparently; encouraging a vital flow of human exchanges in the region; increasing digital innovation; and establishing an ASEAN fund for dealing with COVID-19," the presidential office said.

The joint declaration is available at the ASEAN website at www.asean.org