Asean reaffirms collective response to Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak

Workers fixing new chairs for the grandstand of the under-construction Formula One Vietnam Grand Prix race track site in Hanoi on Saturday (Feb 15) amid concerns about the Covid-19 outbreak. Leaders of Asean members have expressed serious concerns over the outbreak and "solidarity and heartfelt support" for the Chinese government and people. - AFP

HANOI: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to collectively respond to the outbreak of Covid-19, or the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in a statement on Saturday (Feb 15).

The statement released by Vietnam, the rotating chair of Asean for 2020, said leaders of Asean members have expressed serious concerns over the outbreak and "solidarity and heartfelt support" for the Chinese government and people, as well as for all countries around the world, in their "tremendous endeavours" to address the epidemic.