
HANOI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday reaffirmed their determination and commitment to remain united, and to act jointly and decisively to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate its adverse impact on people's livelihood, societies and economies in the region.
"We pledge to remain united and vigilant against COVID-19 and commit to work closely with the WHO (World Health Organization), ASEAN's external partners and the international community to suppress the spread of the pandemic, protect people's lives and livelihoods, maintain socioeconomic stability while sustaining ASEAN Community building momentum for sustainable development, inclusive growth and leaving no one behind," the leaders stated in the Declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19 they adopted at the summit, chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020.
The heads of state or government of the 10 ASEAN members, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, resolved to implement seven groups of actions and activities.