ZCZC
BSS-27
KAMAL-ASEM
ASEM committed to making coordinated efforts to tackle COVID-19 impact: Kamal
DHAKA, Nov 6, 2020 (BSS) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today said partners of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) have come under a commitment to make coordinated efforts to tackle the COVID-19 impact.
“Now, the objective of everyone is same. Strong multilateral coordinated efforts are required against the current situation, unprecedented circumstances and for the implementation of the global agenda. Everyone has agreed to work together to tackle the COVID-19 impact,” he said.
The minister said this while speaking at a press briefing after the 14th meeting of the ‘Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Finance Ministers’ held virtually.
The theme of the meeting was “Facing COVID-19: Ensuring a strong, sustainable, inclusive, and balanced economic recovery”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given a video message at the meeting.
The meeting was attended by finance ministers and representatives from 45 ASEM partners and representatives of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank as keynote speakers, as well as the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) ministers and other heads of delegation exchanged their views and shared their experiences at the meeting.
Mustafa Kamal Informed that the ministers discussed and exchanged views on relief and recovery from the pandemic and the most effective way for the timely implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the COVID-19 global pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and untold sufferings around the world.
As a consequence, more than one million of people lost their lives, the socio-economic situation, public health, the environment and society have seriously taken a hit and the global economic outlook remains uncertain, he added.
He said countries of Asia and Europe are, like all other parts of the world, continuing to bear the brunt of the dreadfulness of the Covid-19, causing severe impacts on employment, income, business, investment, trade and almost all other aspects of life.
As a consequence, he said, the progress in the implementation of SDGs has been greatly hindered by the pervasive spread of the Covid-19.
He informed that the meeting expressed concern on how the second wave of the pandemic is now impacting on many ASEM partner countries.
Responding to a question, Mustafa Kamal said the government is following a flexible policy to tackle COVID-19.
As per requirement, he said, the government is taking steps in this regard.
BSS/ASG/KUC/KU/1935 HRS