US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink receives face masks from the Vietnamese Government and people to the US. (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam)
Active support for foreign countries
As an ASEAN member, Vietnam has given prompt and active support to ASEAN member countries in the fight against COVID-19. As ASEAN Chair, it has proactively promoted solidarity and consensus within the organization; and coordinated joint efforts in coping with the pandemic.
Vietnam has provided medical devices, including protective clothing, medical masks, antibacterial masks, testing systems and the SARS-CoV-2 virus test kit, worth more than VND7 billion for each of the two countries of Laos and Cambodia. It has also presented 500 testing tools to Indonesia; and USD50,000 to Myanmar for fighting COVID-19.
In addition, in order to share the difficulties that Cuba is coping with in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Party, the State and the people of Vietnam has donated 5,000 tons of rice to the Party, State and people of Cuba. The two countries have always supported each other in the most difficult circumstances. Earlier, Cuban senior leaders and Government quickly decided to support Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control.
When COVID-19 underwent complicated development in China, the Vietnamese Party, Government and people presented the Chinese Party, Government and people with medical supplies and equipment, including respiratory machines, antiseptic clothes, gloves, and medical masks with a total value of USD500,000. The Vietnam Red Cross mobilized organizations and individuals to donate to support the Chinese people with medical supplies worth USD100,000 for fighting the pandemic. Besides, the Vietnam National Airlines coordinated to conduct three flights linking Vietnamese and Chinese localities, including the routes of Ho Chi Minh city - Guangzhou; Hanoi - Guangzhou; and Nha Trang - Chengdu, bringing Chinese passengers home safely.
In its capacity, Vietnam continues to support its friends and partners that are suffering serious consequences of the pandemic.
In the spirit of strategic partnership, traditional friends and mutual assistance, Vietnam has earmarked part of its resources to help the fight against COVID-19 in Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, the US and Sweden. The support goods include anti-droplet masks and DuPont protective clothing made by Vietnam. Additionally, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented the Presidential Office of the Russian Federation, the Cabinet Office of Japan, the Office of the White House (US) 50,000 medical masks each.
Vietnamese authorities have also cooperated with British and Italian Embassies in Hanoi to support bringing home British and Italian tourists to Vietnam and Cambodians "trapped" due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Vietnam National Airlines flights. They included some COVID-19 patients who were cured by Vietnamese medical professionals.
Joining hands with international community in COVID-19 fight
Vietnam is controlling the pandemic, achieving positive initial results with a high proportion of COVID-19 people who have been cured, and especially no deaths. The above results are highly appreciated by the World Health Organization and the international community.
Appreciating the importance of international cooperation in the prevention and control of global pandemic, Vietnamese Government leaders and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly conduct phone conversations with partners around the world to share experiences and propose pandemic prevention and control measures.
At the Foreign Ministerial Video-Conference of the Alliance for Multilateralism on COVID-19 on April 16th, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh shared Vietnam's proactive and timely response to the pandemic with the view of putting people's lives and health top priority.
He proposed four main measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first measure is to strengthen international solidarity and multilateral cooperation with the United Nations and the WHO playing the central role, and improve the WHO’s operational efficiency to support developing countries. Vietnam, within its capacity, will contribute to the joint efforts and is willing to provide “Made-in-Vietnam” medical equipment for others.
Secondly, it is important to share information, experience and research achievements, to ensure everyone has access to vaccines and medicine.
Thirdly, he called for stopping activities that affect disease response efforts, especially power politics and unilateral actions contrary to international law.
Vietnam supports the UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire and his appeal to waive sanctions that can undermine countries’ capacity to respond to the pandemic. The fourth measure the Vietnamese official proposed is to build post-COVID-19 development plans which include coordinated policies and measures to stimulate the economy, trade and investment, stabilise the financial market, and restore the confidence of businesses and people./.