Hello, I'm Johnny Diamond and welcome to this special recording of World Questions.

I'm here in Broadcasting House in London and joining me from Across Asia is a panel of experts

and listeners waiting to discuss coronavirus. The virus began in Asia, in Wuhan, in China,

and it's there that the first signs of recovery are starting to emerge.

But still, the virus looms large over a region which faces huge challenges,

not least those of chronic poverty and overcrowding. What can Asia do now to try to slow down this

global pandemic that has killed so many? In China and other southeastern Asian countries,

restrictions are being lifted. The countries are gradually unlocking and life is slowly returning

to a new sort of normal. But in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the lockdowns which started back in

March have been extended into May. Although the infection and death rates so far seem to be much

lower than those experienced in Europe and the USA, the economic effects of lockdown have been

severe, particularly for the most vulnerable groups, migrant workers and those working in the

informal sectors. With our partners, the British Council, we have reached right across this huge

continent to gather some of the important questions that people want our expert panel to discuss.

So to debate all the questions and much more, I'm joined by Manish Cisodia, the Deputy Chief

Minister of Delhi for the AAP, the Anti-Corruption Party. Good afternoon, Manish.

Hello, but how are you? Very well, thank you and thanks for joining us.

Sophia Jan, who is based in Beijing, China, where she's the correspondent for the British

newspaper, The Daily Telegraph. She's been living in China for the past three years and before

that, she lived in Hong Kong for five years. She's recently returned from Wuhan. Hi, Sophia.

Hi there, Johnny. Thanks for having me on. Thank you for coming. Dr. Shaheed Jamil is also in

Delhi. India, he is a leading virologist and expert in infectious diseases and chief executive of

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