Hanoi (VNA) - Southeast Asia was the first region in the worldto be affected by COVID-19 due to its geographic proximity and close traderelations with China, where the outbreak began.

The pandemic became a major challenge for the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) in the context of 2020 being an important year in theimplementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

It has been six months since the first cases were reported in theregion. The Philippines recorded its highest death toll ever on July 13, of 162. The number of infections has tripled since it eased restrictions on June 1,which has forced the country to reimpose a lockdown in an area of the capitalManila where about 250,000 people live.

Indonesia, meanwhile, has been one of the countries hardest hit by thepandemic, with nearly 77,000 infections, and has recently detected a newoutbreak relating to a military academy in West Java, with nearly 1,300 peopletesting positive for the coronavirus.

Vietnam has now gone almost three months without any communitytransmissions and over 94 percent of its 373 cases have been given the all-clear.Of particular note, there have been zero fatalities.

The country has been widely recognised by the international community ashaving successfully fought the pandemic. The ASEAN Post called on the bloc’smember states to take Vietnam as an example to learn from.

Thailand has also recorded no new local transmissions for more than a month,while Laos has reported no new cases for over 90 days.

This means that most ASEAN countries have basically curbed the diseaseand gradually returned to the “new normal” with low rates of fatalities or noneat all.

The regional fight against COVID-19, however, remains difficult, as somecountries are at risk of a second wave.

The ASEAN countries have been proactive in preventing the spread of the disease.Vietnam was evaluated by the US magazine “The Nation” as adopting the mosteffective response to COVID-19, with a “proactive strategy to keep infectionsto a minimum”.

In face of the unprecedented challenge, the leading role Vietnam playedas rotating Chair of ASEAN has been clearly demonstrated. Under its chairmanship,ASEAN has organised a series of video conferences to discuss how to cope withthe pandemic, in particular the ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Special Summits on COVID-19in April.

Member countries agreed to accelerate the implementation of fourinitiatives, including the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, ASEAN regional medicalmaterial storage, standards to respond to emergency public health issues, andpost-pandemic recovery plans.

Vietnam’s responsible role was further demonstrated by the 36th ASEANSummit in late June, with the adoption of an “ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statementon a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN: Rising Above Challenges And SustainingGrowth”, and an ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for theChanging World of Work.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups together ten member countries: Brunei,Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand, and Vietnam./.