PM calls for concerted efforts against future pandemics

Speaking at the 7th Greater Mekong Sub-region Cooperation Summit (GMS), he also called for joint efforts to maintain supply chains.

The online summit was attended by the leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China, chairperson of the Asian Development Bank and around 350 other representatives, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chinh stressed the strategic role that the Greater Mekong Sub-region plays in international integration and Asia's economic growth and said the current time was opportune for the region to cooperate for development.

He said members should work to push back and manage the novel coronavirus pandemic while building mechanisms to combat infectious diseases in the future.

He said the countries should support each other in accessing vaccines and Covid-19 drugs "in an open, equal and transparent manner." Vaccines can be shared through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms while boosting tech transfer for the production of vaccines and drugs in the region, he added.

Chinh requested the ADB to look into a more flexible financial mechanism and to prioritize emergency support for countries to buy vaccines, drugs and medical equipment to fight Covid-19, as also help GMS businesses to form vaccine and drug production chains.

The PM also said that supply chains in the region must not be broken, and that they can be maintained by simplifying procedures and ensuring that traffic flow across borders to transport goods and people is safe from the virus.

Other topics that Chinh spoke about included traffic infrastructure, energy and climate change challenges.

The leaders adopted a Joint Conference Statement and agreed to hold the 8th summit in China in 2024.