SEMINAR: HOW ASEAN COUNTRIES COOPERATE TO FIGHT THE COVID-19

In the morning of May 26th, 2021, the Center for Vietnam and Southeast Asian Studies attended the virtual seminar "How ASEAN countries cooperate to fight the COVID-19" organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Federal Republic of Germany). The seminar enjoyed the participation of many domestic and international researchers and administrators as well as attracting a large number of viewers in Vietnam.

Speakers of the seminar

Presenting at the seminar were Ms. Caitlin Wiesen - UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam; Mr. Tan Weiming - Deputy Chief of Mission, Singapore Embassy in Hanoi; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang - Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

The speakers spoke in succession on the COVID-19 situation in ASEAN countries, analyzing typical examples in epidemic prevention and control as well as emphasizing the importance of solidarity and cooperation among ASEAN countries in disease control and economic and social recovery.

Ms. Caitlin Wiesen - UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam

Ms. Caitlin Wiesen said the state of vaccine development across the world was headed in a positive direction. However, one could not rule out a bad case scenario where developed countries monopolized the supply and surplus of vaccines while low- and middle-income countries struggled to acquire vaccines for health workers. At the same time, the COVAX Mechanism still required a lot of funding to be able to provide vaccines to poor countries. These things, according to the Resident Representative, would divide countries around the world into two groups: with vaccines and without vaccines. “We all know if the whole world doesn’t bring COVID-19 under control, no country is completely safe”, emphasized Ms. Wiesen when talking about the role of solidarity in epidemic control.

Mr. Tan Weiming - Deputy Chief of Mission, Singapore Embassy in Hanoi

Mr. Tan Weiming followed up Ms. Wiesen with a presentation on the state of Singapore's epidemic control. According to him, Singapore, having had a lot of experience in epidemic prevention and control drawn from the 2003 SARS epidemic, had implemented many strict disease control mechanisms. However, due to certain conditions, closing Singapore's borders with other countries was out of the question. In addition, Mr. Weiming mentioned the important role of cooperation between countries in epidemic control and called on Vietnam and ASEAN countries to further unite during this difficult time.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh – Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Sharing Mr. Weiming's sentiment, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh again emphasized the element of cooperation between ASEAN countries. He opined that the pandemic could be viewed as a factor to help bring ASEAN closer together. When the pandemic is overcome, the potential of the bloc will be strengthened. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh said that what was urgent then was a vaccine, not just control measures.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences

Among the speakers representing Vietnam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang presented examples of ASEAN countries' solidarity and coordination in disease prevention. He also emphasized that the people and the government needed to unite and coordinate more closely to improve the epidemic situation in Vietnam.

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