Viet PM warns of calamity at summit

Regrouping: Phuc speaking during the opening ceremony of the 36th Asean Summit in Hanoi as leaders from the bloc hold the bi-annual meet online to discuss regional issues. — AP

THE country’s Prime Minister warned that the virus pandemic has swept away years of economic gains as South-East Asian leaders met online for a summit.

The current Chair of Asean also wants to use the summit to inject momentum into talks on a sprawling China-backed trade pact.