Russia ready to share its pandemic fighting skills with ASEAN epidemiologists

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited epidemiologists from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take part in a refresher course on biological safety as part of efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting of the 16th East Asia Summit via video conference, Putin said the course is scheduled to be held in November-December at the Center for the Study of Biological Safety Problems in the Asia-Pacific Region in Russia's eastern city of Vladivostok.

He also called for the development of a procedure for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates to ensure "unhindered movement" of citizens of ASEAN countries.

Putin noted that the tourism sector is one of the worst-hit by the pandemic and suggested holding the first ASEAN meeting on tourism in January 2022 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cambodia and in the future to make such meetings regular.