China, South-East Asia hold emergency meet on viral outbreak

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives for welcome dinner in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday (Feb 19). The foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) are meeting in Laos during a two-day seminar to discuss ways to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 infections. - AP

VIENTIANE: China’s top diplomat arrived on Wednesday (Feb 19) in Laos for an emergency meeting with counterparts from South-East Asian countries, which have expressed alarm over a viral outbreak that started in China.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to discuss the crisis with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) on Wednesday in the Laotian capital of Vientiane then hold broader formal talks the following day. Six countries in the 10-nation bloc have confirmed cases of the new virus that causes Covid-19.