Firstly, ASEAN needs a holistic, synchronous and flexible approach to COVID-19 control with the involvement of the entire community, with people and businesses being the centre and subject, and with the goal of addressing difficulties caused by the pandemic in the spirit of "benefits harmonised, risks shared".
For an effective implementation Chinh emphasised the need to improve the efficiency of coordination mechanisms, improve the capacity of the health system, be proactive in vaccines and treatment drugs and raise the people's awareness. On this occasion, he announced a list of medical supplies worth millions of US dollars to be contributed to the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies.
Secondly, the Vietnamese Government leader stressed the necessity for ASEAN to position itself in the world’s reshaping socio-economic relationship, and consolidate its role as the nucleus of dialogue, cooperation and multilateral and multi-layered economic integration processes in the region.
The bloc needs to consider taking advantage of new factors such as digital transformation, digital economy, circular economy, green technology, renewable energy and high-quality human resources to participate more deeply in regional and global supply chains and improve the attractiveness of the ASEAN market.
In order to continue implementing Vietnam’s priorities in the ASEAN Chairmanship year 2020, PM Chinh announced a plan to organise the ASEAN Forum on Sub-Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth on November 30 in Hanoi.
At the summit, leaders of ASEAN countries discussed efforts to build the community and respond to the pandemic. They agreed to ratify the ASEAN Travel Corridor Agreement Framework (ATCAF), and actively considered the possibility of mutual recognition and application of electronic vaccination certificates for people. The countries also suggested soon putting into operation the ASEAN Reserve for Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Centre for Response to Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).
They approved, recognised and announced many important documents, such as the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration on the Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses to Emergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD), ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Upholding Multilateralism, and ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on the Blue Economy.
