BANGKOK, Nov 12 (TNA) — Leaders of Southeast Asian nations met their counterparts from China and Japan in their summits via teleconferences to discuss cooperation which includes efforts to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attended the meetings from Government House.
In the 23rd ASEAN-China Summit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as the chair of the meeting, said he hoped participants would set directions for relations and cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China in various areas including responses to COVID-19.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said China pushed for the development projects that would guarantee peace, stability and mutual benefits in the region.
Prime Minister Prayut said the COVID-19 crisis proved true friendships between ASEAN and China. He thanked China for contributing US$1 million to ASEAN’s COVID-19 fund and announcing that COVID-19 vaccines and medicines would be available for the public.
In the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit, the Vietnamese prime minister urged for cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in various dimensions including COVID-19 control.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Japan was ready to support the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (AHEED) and promote prosperity and freedom in the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Prayut told the summit that the COVID-19 crisis was an opportunity for Japan and ASEAN to strengthen their strategic partnership. He supported Japan’s proposal to create concrete cooperation in accordance with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
He also said that Thailand was ready to be the base of AHEED. (TNA)
