President Moon Jae-in on April 6 received a request from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to deliver the keynote address at the videoconference of the World Health Assembly in May as Asia's representative. This photo shows the president on April 6 chairing a meeting on emergency financial support for companies and small-size businesses hit by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Korea Federation of Banks in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Yonhap News)

President Moon Jae-in and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 6 held a phone conversation on global cooperation to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The WHO chief praised Korea's comprehensive strategies to tackle the disease, including active testing and diagnosis and tracking the routes of those confirmed to be infected. He then asked the president to deliver the keynote speech in May at the videoconference of the World Health Assembly, WHO's highest decision-making body, as Asia's representative.

President Moon answered by saying, "The Korean government is consistently responding in accordance with the three principles of openness, transparency and democracy."

"We are minimizing unnecessary restrictions on the movement of people and goods in line with the WHO’s recommendations,” he said, adding that his administration will closely consult on related measures in detail through diplomatic channels.

"I've recently discussed how to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak over the phone with the leaders of about 20 countries," the chief executive said.

"The Korean government is willing to provide active support in regard to their requests for our quarantine know-how and supplies as domestic circumstances allow."

President Moon also told the WHO chief, "In the face of this unprecedented global healthcare crisis, the role of the WHO is becoming more important."

"I hope that the WHO will play a leading role in eradicating COVID-19 by taking active countermeasures through international unity."

xuaiy@korea.kr