BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang will attend a special meeting of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on responding to COVID-19 on April 14 in Beijing.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the announcement on April 13, saying the video meeting will be hosted by Vietnam as ASEAN's chair in 2020.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, as friendly neighbors, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN countries have been working together and supporting each other. The event is an important meeting on the joint response to the pandemic in East Asia held after the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, Zhao told a press briefing.

"It demonstrates the determination and willingness of East Asian countries to work together to combat the pandemic and safeguard regional economic development," he added.

China looks forward to an in-depth exchange of views among the 10+3 countries on cooperation to prevent the spread of the pandemic and safeguard economic development, and hopes that the meeting will achieve positive results in strengthening cooperation on prevention and control, enhancing health cooperation in East Asia, promoting practical cooperation and economic and trade exchanges, and advancing regional economic integration, Zhao said.