The Thai Foreign Minister attended the Special ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on COVID-19 via video conference to discuss enhancing cooperation in public health in a concrete manner where he reiterated the importance of digital economy in mitigating the economic impacts and the importance of assistance to nationals during the crisis. At the meeting, the US announced the public health emergency assistance to ASEAN Member States totaling USD 35.3 million, which includes a new initiative called “ASEAN-U.S. Health Futures,” and the plan to elevate the US CDC to serve as a regional mechanism to support prevention and monitor future possible outbreaks in ASEAN.

 

On 23 April 2020, H.E. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the Special ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on COVID-19 via video conference.  H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, in his capacity as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations, co-chaired the meeting with H.E. Michael Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States. The meeting was attended by all ASEAN Foreign Ministers as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General.

 

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to enhanced cooperation in public health in a concrete manner and exchanged views on the various measures undertaken to respond to COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. The Secretary of State announced at the Meeting that the US has extended public health emergency assistance to ASEAN Member States amounting to a combined total of USD 35.3 million, which includes a new initiative called “ASEAN-U.S. Health Futures”. The United States also has plans to elevate the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to serve as a regional mechanism to support prevention and monitor future possible outbreaks in ASEAN.

 

The Thai Foreign Minister highlighted the need for timely and transparent exchange of information on public health emergencies in response to COVID-19 and proposed that the public health sectors of both sides convene more regularly. In this connection, he welcomed the upcoming meetings between the Health Ministers and health experts of both sides at the end of April. He also supported the US’ efforts on the urgent research and development of medicines and vaccines for COVID-19.  The Foreign Minister also proposed both sides to fully benefit from the digital economy, and to hasten cooperation on promoting the ASEAN digital infrastructure, in particular the ASEAN Digital Hub initiated by Thailand, to help mitigate the economic impacts that includes the disruption in the supply chain, especially for necessary goods, medicines and medical equipment. Cooperation on assistance to nationals from both sides is critical during this crisis. He extended Thailand’s appreciation for the bilateral public health emergency assistance received through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the CDC.

 

This was the first Special Meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the US Secretary of State via video conference on COVID-19 which reaffirms the US’ role as a key Strategic Partner of ASEAN.  The cooperation, assistance and initiatives extended and proposed by the US are of great benefit to ASEAN in responding to COVID-19 and in enhancing ASEAN preparedness for future public health emergencies