国际英语资讯:Spotlight: ASEAN nations join hands together to combat COVID-19_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: ASEAN nations join hands together to combat COVID-19

The health ministers also agreed to strengthen regional cooperation in risk communication on COVID-19; utilize digital technology, including video conferencing and social media applications, as well as artificial intelligence, in addition to the existing official and formal platforms for efficient exchange of information which will facilitate the timely implementation of public health responses; and coordinate cross-border public health responses through existing bilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms.

Besides, they reached consensus on enhancing cooperation within ASEAN-led mechanisms and with external partners or stakeholders in capacity building interventions on public health emergency preparedness and response; ensuring that all persons infected by COVID-19 can access essential healthcare services; supporting the timely provision of assistance that is critical to sustaining affected national health systems in the region and improving the readiness of others; combating the outbreak in ASEAN, hand-in-hand with dialogue and development partners, and other regional and global entities; and continuing the collaboration in learning from the regional and national experiences in responding to COVID-19 challenges.

On March 10, ASEAN economic ministers (AEM) gathered in Vietnam's central Da Nang city for the 26th AEM Retreat, resolving to strengthen regional information sharing and coordination and collaboration efforts in responding to the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, and to leverage on technologies and digital trade to allow businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises to continue operations amidst the outbreak.