ASEAN Summits Conclude with Focus on Post-COVID-19 Recovery

When addressing the closing ceremony, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, who is also the current ASEAN chairman for 2021, said that leaders of the 10-country bloc had productive discussions on the current state and future direction of the region as well as considered ways to further enhance relationships with external partners.

The Sultan said that ASEAN has stepped up efforts to respond to and recover from COVID-19, including work to help its people by securing vaccines and protecting their well-being through the ASEAN Comprehensive Framework on Care Economy, as the region continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the emergence of new variants.

During the summit meetings, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to keep markets open and ensure the continued flow of trade and investment, supply chain connectivity, particularly for essential products, and for a strong and resilient post-COVID-19 economy, a chairman's statement on the 38th and 39th ASEAN summits stated.

Noting that tourism is one of the hardest-hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN leaders highlighted the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation to safely restart and rebuild ASEAN tourism industry as a significant contributor to economic and social advancements and a major source of employment, income and livelihoods of people and local communities in the region.

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