Thursday, 17/06/2021 18:35 (GMT+7)
Nearly one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Japanese Government arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on late June 16.
At the vaccine receiving ceremony (Photo: Noi Bai International Airport)
The vaccines, weighing some 3.3 tons, were transported to Ho Chi Minh City by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines on June 17 as directed by the Prime Minister, in order to deal with the complex development of the pandemic.
According to Vietnam News Agency, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, representing the Vietnamese Government, received the COVID-19 vaccine batch at the airport.
Addressing the event, Minister Long expressed his joy to receive the vaccine shipment as donated by the Japanese Government, saying that this gift is an example of the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Japan, especially amidst complicated developments of the pandemic and critical shortages of vaccines on a global scale.
Vietnam is committed to effectively using the vaccines as soon as possible, Long said, adding this batch of the vaccine would be transported to Ho Chi Minh City on June 17 morning to inoculate the people and workers in the southern city.
He also said that Vietnam is the first country in Southeast Asia that has received COVID-19 vaccine aid from Japan.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said the donation is a testament to the longstanding friendship between Japan and Vietnam, and Japan wishes to connect with the international community, especially with Vietnam, to overcome the pandemic./.
Compiled by BTA