On 24 April, the European Union celebrates the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Today, the unprecedented ongoing global pandemic and the high level of our interdependence make all too evident the need for collective solutions.

“The virus does not distinguish between continents, borders, nationalities or ethnicities”. In the first ministerial statement on COVID-19 embracing the two continents, Foreign Ministers from Asia and Europe stress the transboundary nature of the pandemic and the interconnectedness between their countries. Those in vulnerable situations must be protected, including tackling violence against women and children. The pandemic should not be allowed to increase stigmatization, nor worsen existing inequality.