Southeast Asian leaders vow to cooperate in coronavirus fight

[webfact]

Southeast Asian leaders vow to cooperate in coronavirus fight

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends a special summit via video conference with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, April 14, 2020. Thailand Government House/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. 

 

HANOI (Reuters) - Southeast Asian leaders agreed at their first video conference summit on Tuesday to fight together against the "gravest public health crisis" in 100 years to make the region safe again.

 

Coronavirus cases in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the past month have soared to more than 20,000 from fewer than 840. The death toll has grown to 866 from 14, but due to limited testing in some countries, medical professionals suspect the real numbers may be much higher.

 

"COVID-19 is the gravest public health crisis ... in a century. It's critical for us and ASEAN to mount a united response because of how connected and interdependent our countries are," Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the meeting.

 

"None of us in ASEAN can be truly safe unless the entire region is safe," said Lee.

 

The meeting, chaired by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, agreed member states should "enhance cooperation" to combat COVID-19 in the region and ensure regional supply chains remain open, Vietnamese state broadcaster VTV reported.

 

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus first encountered in Wuhan, China, at the end of last year.

 

The total number of infections in ASEAN countries has been surging, with Singapore reporting 386 new infections on Monday and the Philippines reporting 291 on Tuesday.

 

Indonesia has reported nearly 400 deaths, the highest toll in Asia after China, sparking concern about an escalating crisis in some parts of the region.

Phuc said the rate at which regional numbers were growing, however, was still slower than the global average.

 

To address the urgent needs of member states during the pandemic, ASEAN leaders agreed to establish a joint fund and medical stockpile, VTV reported, without providing details.

 

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen and James Pearson; Editing by Tom Hogue)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-14

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[RotMahKid]

That's fast!

[DrTuner]

Quote

ASEAN leaders agreed to establish a joint fund and medical stockpile, VTV reported, without providing details

And that's probably all that's ever going to happen. ASEAN has been useless.

[inactiveposter]

Another picture from the front of this group shows only their aides wearing masks. Great leadership! 
 

[heist]

Can't wait to see the generals sporting their new COV19 medals personally

[Burma Bill]

Congratulations on video conferencing.

[varun]

ASEAN is a complete failure and nothing more than a pipe-dream.

All fluff and no substance, as usual,

[rupert the bear]

it must be remembered that each country has very different populations,indo and PH have much higher pops so more people will be infected,we also see that statistics are not reliable,singapore yes but in a military dictatorship thats another story,laos  and cambodia for eg.ASEAN has an appalling record on everything to do with human rights and one could well argue that reporting and health care are rights,no testing or barely any in some countries and not free,where to get a test is the 1st question in many nations except sing,as usual whats obviously needed info is hidden then the cost?layers of crud before we  get to first base.people must be able to test easily and free.theres plenty of money about for that and everyone knows who has it,in all these countries its the usual suspects!