PH, China Organize Virtual Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations, COVID-19

Virtual Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations held via zoom platform and streamed to the public via YouTube on 29 May 2020. (Jakarta PM photo)

JAKARTA 04 June 2020 – The Mission of China to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), supported by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines as country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, organized a well-attended Jakarta Virtual Forum on 29 May 2020 that brought together experts to discuss areas where regional cooperation on COVID-19 should be strengthened.

The event, which was conducted through video-conferencing and streamed to the public via youtube, was attended by approximately 500 participants.

The Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Ambassador Noel Servigon delivered an opening remarks that shared the different ways ASEAN Member States have cooperated in their response to the pandemic. The forum, he said, continues the spirit of cooperation which had been set by our Ministers and Leaders to not only learn from the current crisis, but to ensure a better and stronger region.

Ambassador of China to ASEAN Deng Xijun also highlighted the mutual assistance and friendship between ASEAN Member States and China since the beginning of the outbreak. The new infection numbers, he said, suggest that ASEAN is fairing better than most regions. He also commended ASEAN Member States for the continuing cooperation. 

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoak and Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jose Tavares also addressed the Forum.

The virtual event was moderated by FPCI Co-Founder Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar and was opened to reactions, questions, and comments from the invited experts which included members of the academe, officials from the United Nations, representatives of regional organizations and civil society. END

For more information, visit http://www.jakartapm.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionJakarta.