[UPDATE] ASEM’s Strategy in Overcoming a Global Pandemic

[UPDATE] ASEM’s Strategy in Overcoming a Global Pandemic

Jakarta – LSPR Communication & Business Institute together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia held a Webinar with the theme “COVID – 19 Post Action Plan: How ASEM Could Help Handle Global Pandemic and What to do Next ?. This webinar was opened by Mr. Masni Eriza, Director of KSIA America and Europe and Rector of LSPR Communication & Business Institute, Dr. Andre Ikhsano, M.Si. The speaker was Mr. Masni Eriza, Director of KSIA America and Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Toru Morikawa, Executive Director, Asia – Europe Forum and Ambassador Vincent Piket, Chair of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. This webinar was hosted by Gabriella as the MC and Mr. Rudi Sukandar, PhD as the Moderator.

In early 2020, the global community started this year by facing a health crisis, the outbreak of the Covid – 19 virus that became a global pandemic. This changes the global economy, trade, tourism industry, and health threats. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Directorate of Cooperation and Interregional Affairs of America and Europe, raises this issue towards the academic sphere so that it can become a forum for dialogue and interactive discussion. Through this webinar, it is hoped that students and the general public can understand how ASEM’s role is in helping and overcoming the global pandemic through relations between countries.

Keynote Speech by Dr. Andre Ikhsano, Rector of LSPR Communication & Business Institute

With its partner countries, ASEM represents 60% of the world’s population with more than 60% of world GDP. ASEM partners have great potential to work together, especially in the health sector, support medical personnel, delivery of medical device assistance, and work together to fight the spread of covid – 19.

Mr. Masni Eriza, Director of KSIA America and Europe said that in handling Covid 19, international cooperation is the key in dealing with the pandemic.

Mr. Masni Eriza, Director of KSIA America and Europe said that in handling Covid 19, international cooperation is the key in dealing with the pandemic, ASEM reiterates its strong commitment to multilateralism based on UN principles and values. To return to normalcy, vaccines are needed and ASEM partners are committed to supporting existing mechanisms to develop vaccines in a timely and safe manner. At the same time, the existence of a vaccine is useless if it is not universally available, ASEM is also pushing it as a global public good for health. ASEM partners have also agreed to minimize disruptions to global trade and travel, such as flight restrictions, while paying attention to public health and safety. ASEM is committed to ensuring that post-pandemic recovery is sustainable, among others through the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Toru Morikawa, Executive Director, Asia – Europe Forum explained about Asia-Europe (Foundation).

Next, Mr. Toru Morikawa, Executive Director, Asia – Europe Forum explained about Asia-Europe (Foundation). Founded in 1997, ASEF is an intergovernmental organization born because of the ASEM forum. The ASEF Secretariat is based in Singapore and the goal of ASEF itself is to promote better understanding between Asia and Europe.

Each year ASEF has more than 25 annual activities covering the fields of culture, education, government, economy, public health, media and sustainable development. In the COVID-19 pandemic situation, ASEF has the ASEF Public Health Network (ASEF PHN) and contributes to holding dialogue on public health priorities related to the pandemic. ASEF-PNH also has a special dialogue regarding the pandemic called “Strengthening Preparedness and Response to the COVID-19 and other Emerging Infectious Disease”

Mr. Vincent Piket explained the perspective of the European Union on ASEM

Ambassador Vincent Piket explained the perspective of the European Union on ASEM, conveying that he really appreciated the existence of ASEM as a place for informal dialogue on various existing issues and looking for what could be done afterwards. According to him, with 53 partners, each of whom had different views, approaches, political backgrounds, and so on, it was not always possible to find solutions. ASEM represents about 50% of GDP. Therefore, it is very important to keep trade borders open. ASEM partners ensure borders will and will remain open to essential goods such as medicine. The existence of ASEM helps to understand each other, and the European Union will support further ASEM activities.

Mr. Toru explained that every government in each country has done its best to protect its people

Regarding pandemic readiness, it can be concluded that good collaboration between countries is prioritized. As explained by Mr. Toru that every government in each country has done its best to protect its people. When it comes to pandemic readiness, the most important thing is collaboration. Mr. Masni conveyed “No one is safe until everyone is safe”. The corona virus cannot be predicted. This has greatly affected the world economy, therefore, collaboration between countries is the most important thing to develop and carry out to jointly face covid -19. Ambassador Vincent Piket conveyed that the most important thing is to collaborate together to make vaccines that can be distributed to people throughout the country.

ASEM is a forum for dialogue and cooperation between the ASIA and European Regions which is aimed at creating partnerships and progress for Asia – Europe, strengthening equal dialogue and building mutual understanding and the region. ASEM focuses on three pillars of cooperation, namely politics, economy and socio-culture. ASEM has its own platform for policy dialogue among ASEM Partner countries with a focus on pandemic preparedness and response. ASEM prepares post-action plans to be implemented post-pandemic.