Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh

Minister Anh said Vietnam has closely followed the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on regional economy and supply chains. As ASEAN Chairman, Vietnam is supportive of devising a collective economic recovery plan.

Minister Anh and the ASEAN Secretary General agreed to support ASEAN and its three partners – China, Japan, and South Korea – to approve a “Joint Statement of the ASEAN Economic Ministers+3 on responding to Covid-19”.

Mr. Anh said: “The Covid-19 epidemic has exposed weaknesses of ASEAN’s economy and breakdown of supply chains that ASEAN countries are participating in. ASEAN and its partners should adopt appropriate policies on investment, employment, technology, market, and finance to enhance cooperation among ASEAN members and between ASEAN and its partners in order to restructure supply chains and ensure resilient response to the situation.”

The ASEAN General Secretary praised the Vietnamese government’s decision on temporary removal of restrictions for export of medical products such as face masks, whilst also removing quotas for rice exports. He said he hopes that the ASEAN summit will be held in June, via teleconferencing or direct meeting, to discuss action plans after the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.