Hanoi (VNA) – Pham Thi Hong Yen, permanent member of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for Economic Affairs, has called for further sharing of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs between members of the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP).

This is a basic solution to economic recovery, Yen said while addressing a discussion session of the 11th ASEP on November 16.

She also suggested countries that have strength in the production of vaccines and treatment drugs to enhance their support to developing nations and those severely affected by the pandemic, helping their citizens gain equitable and timely access to vaccines, treatment drugs and modern medical equipment.

The Vietnamese legislator highlighted the need to beef up partnerships and cooperation in the transfer of vaccine production technologies, and to improve capability for COVID-19 response.

Yen proposed boosting partnerships between ASEP and regional and international parliamentary organisations in preventing and handling crises and emergencies, saying ASEP member parliaments should quickly consolidate national policies to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control, and economic recovery for both short and long terms, especially targeting the green, circular economy.

She stressed the significance of trade liberalisation, transnational investment, international transportation, innovation, creation, digital transformation, application of scientific and technological advances, and high-quality personnel development to fulfill these objectives.

The meeting concluded the same day with the issuance of a joint declaration, under which the ASEP committed to strengthening multilateralism and global partnership for peace, stability, development and human rights based on the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international law.

The meeting also emphasised the importance of inclusive dialogue, trust building, adherence to the principle of mutual security and constructive diplomatic engagement, especially parliamentary diplomacy in preventing wars and conflicts.

ASEP-11 urged ASEM partners to cooperate more extensively on the production and distribution of safe, effective and quality-assured COVID-19 vaccines to provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination by continuing investment in scientific research and development, technology transfer, manufacturing and making vaccines available and affordable to all and as common global public goods, and to work cohesively to promote an inclusive and effective immunisation against the virus so that socio-economic recovery can be carried out faster and in a robust and inclusive manner./.