Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his video message to the UN General Assembly’s special session on COVID-19 response on December 3-4 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – By harnessing the willand power of each nation and strengthening solidarity and cooperation, theinternational community will win the battle against COVID-19, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc said in his message to the UN General Assembly’s specialsession on COVID-19 response.
Opening the event that took place on December3-4, President of the 75th session of UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir said:“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life for everyone around the world. It haschallenged our world in ways unlike any other crisis in the 75-year history ofthe United Nations.”
He held that COVID-19 is a global health crisisbut also an economic crisis, a development crisis, a humanitarian crisis, and ahuman rights crisis, pointing out the necessity to ensure fair and equitableaccess to vaccines, protect the most vulnerable, leave no one behind, andensure that the policies implemented to combat the pandemic do not underminethe democratic institutions that underpin the long-term health of economies andsocieties.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterresbelieved that to cope with COVID-19 in the time ahead, priority needs to begiven to stronger health systems and universal health coverage.
He appealed to developed countries to fulfiltheir long-standing promise to provide 100 billion USD annually to supportdeveloping countries in reaching the shared climate goals.
In the special session’s general debate, PM Phucsaid in his remarks sent to the event that to win the battle against COVID-19,countries need to uphold the central role of the UN, step up policycoordination, take collective action, and champion international cooperationand multilateral efforts in global governance.
As a non-permanent member of the UN SecurityCouncil for 2020-2021, Vietnam reiterates its support for the UN SecretaryGeneral’s call for a global ceasefire, lifting of unilateral sanctions, andprovision of humanitarian assistance in the fight against COVID-19,he said.
He called on countries to put the interest ofpeople in the core of all policies and actions, noting that the top priorityshould be to protect the lives and health of the people and ensure universaland affordable access to vaccines and treatments.
Countries also need to actively adapt to the“new normal” for sustainable development, PM Phuc said, “In addition topandemic containment, we should simultaneously promote economic recovery,facilitate cross-border trade, investment and travel, and maintain supplychains of essential goods, food and medical equipment.”
“Countries should not lose sight of commitmentswith regard to the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 and climateaction. In particular, developing countries should receive financial,commercial, and technical assistance in realising the UN SustainableDevelopment Goals as needed.”
The PM went on to say that Vietnam has managedto contain COVID-19, ensured social security, and restored growth, thanking theUN and international organisations for the meaningful support and cooperationextended to the country.
As the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has worked withfellow member states in putting forth initiatives in COVID-19 response such asthe ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, theStrategic Framework for Public Health Emergencies, and the ASEAN Centre forPublic Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
It has also proposed a range of ideas and initiativeswithin the UN framework and engaged in discussions with fellow members to adoptresolutions and documents for enhancing international cooperationin COVID-19 response, according to him.
He added the Vietnamese Government,organisations, businesses, and people have also gifted domestically producedmedical supplies to many countries hard-hit by the pandemic, shared experience,and made donations to international funds on COVID-19 despite financialconstraints.
The PM expressed his belief that the internationalcommunity will emerge triumphant and build a brighter future for each and everycountry and individual by harnessing the will and power of each nation, andstrengthening solidarity and cooperation./.
VNA
