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Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian scholar Prof. AleksiusJemadu has said the 36th ASEAN Summit needs to focus on policy coordinationin response to COVID-19, regional stability in face of complicated developmentsin the East Sea and promotion of the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).

In a recent interview granted to Vietnam NewsAgency, Prof. Jemadu, former Dean of Political and Social Sciences at Indonesia’sPelita Harapan University, said it is time for ASEAN to coordinate policies tocope with and drive COVID-19 out of Southeast Asia.
 
He suggested that ASEAN leaders should have coordination policies at the regional level and share thebest practices to deal with the pandemic crisis while restoring economy;improving trade, investment and tourism in the region.

With success in the fight against COVID-19, Vietnamcould share its experience with other ASEAN member states, he said.

In face of the complicated developments in the EastSea, he said ASEAN needs to strengthen its diplomatic policies with China andpersuade the country to speed up negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC), so as to prevent acts of escalation and unnecessary use of violencein the sea.

The scholar also expected ASEAN to continuemaintaining its solidarity and spotlighting its central role in dealing withissues related to regional stability in the East Sea.

As regional economy slowed down due to COVID-19, hesuggested ASEAN step up RCEP talks and persuade India to join the deal to “leaveno one behind” in inter-regional economic integration and cooperation process.

Jemadu hailed Vietnam for guiding ASEAN memberstates to maintain the grouping’s central role and stability.

He believed that Vietnam is in the best position touphold the role of ASEAN leadership in this decisive time.

All ASEAN countries🉐 expect Vietnam to effectivelyplay its role in uniting ASEAN and prioritising the promotion of ASEAN’s centralrole during its tenure as ASEAN Chair 2020, he said./.   ;