Attending the event were leaders of ASEAN member states, RoK President Moon Jae-in, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and General Director of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In his opening speech, PM Phuc said regional and global countries are facing unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 which has spread to over 200 countries and territories, seriously hurting socio-economic life in many nations, including ASEAN+3. In the spirit of “Cohesive and Responsive”, the ASEAN Community is working closely with partners and international community to contain the pandemic, he said, adding that timely and drastic efforts by governments of ASEAN countries and China, Japan and the RoK to curb the epidemic spread have achieved initial but encouraging results. The PM affirmed that ASEAN+3 countries enjoy the tradition of close cooperation, effectively coping with economic challenges, disasters and epidemics, including SARS in 2003. In face of the seriousness of COVID-19 now, he highlighted the need to uphold the tradition and enhance solidarity to jointly overcome these difficult times. The leaders adopted the Declaration of the Special ASEAN +3 Summit on COVID-19 at the end of the summit./.