The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Andean Community expressed their commitment to joining all efforts necessary to counter the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their territories.
In a joint statement, the ministers expressed their concern about the contagion of COVID-19 in the region, declared by the
World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic.
In this sense, the dignitaries stressed the importance of exchanging epidemiological information and diagnoses of the disease's evolution in real time, for timely decision-making, as well as sharing successful experiences in mitigating its expansion.
Moreover, the diplomats expressed the will for the competent authorities to evaluate a possible joint purchase of medical supplies and the importance of strengthening regional health integration mechanisms to achieve quick and efficient results in the face of the crisis.
They also highlighted the importance of facing the social and economic impacts derived from the pandemic and of international cooperation, including financing and aid packages from developed countries and financial institutions to face this pandemic and its economic consequences.
Lastly, they announced the willingness to carry out virtual meetings —coordinated by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs— with the aim of synchronizing actions in areas of regional interest to face the pandemic, if deemed necessary.