Muhyiddin to participate in online NAM Summit on Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will participate in the Online Summit Level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group via video conferencing on Monday evening.

The summit-level meeting is being held in response to the Covid-19 pandemic which has swept through the globe.

It will be the first appearance by Muhyiddin at a NAM platform since he took office as the 8th Malaysian Prime Minister on Feb 29.

The NAM Online Summit will be chaired by Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, who is the current Chair of NAM for the 2019-2022 term.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the theme of the Summit is "United against the Covid-19" to promote international solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

"In commemorating the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, which falls on April 24 every year, the Summit will also emphasise the values of multilateralism in addressing the challenges faced by NAM members in dealing with the pandemic," it said.

At the NAM Online Summit, Muhyiddin is scheduled to deliver a statement that will highlight the strategy that Malaysia has put in place in addressing the unprecedented impacts of Covid-19 here.

"YAB Prime Minister is also expected to underscore the importance of unity within the Movement to inhibit the spread of the virus and defeat the pandemic," said Wisma Putra.

It added that the Summit will be joined by NAM member states at the Heads of State

and Government level, which will be known as the NAM Contact Group, whom aspire to advocate solidarity against the pandemic.

President of the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande; Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO ) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, will also participate in the online Summit.

In addition, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is expected to take part in the Summit via a pre-recorded message.

Wisma Putra said the Summit is expected to adopt a Declaration as a unified voice of the movement to call for intensified international cooperation in combating the pandemic.

"The Declaration will then endorse the establishment of a NAM Task Force to identify social and humanitarian requirements of NAM Member States in their fight against Covid-19," it added.

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