Day: July 22, 2021

Vietnam always treasures its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, considering it one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son while receiving newly-appointed Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko in Hanoi on July 22.

Son congratulated Bezdetko on his return to Vietnam in his new position as the ambassador, and stressed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will create optimal conditions for the diplomat to well fulfill his tasks.

Vietnam wants to step up cooperation in multiple spheres, including the exchange of delegations, especially high-ranking delegations, he said.

The Minister said that the Vietnam-Russia relations have been flourishing despite adverse impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, voicing his hope that Russia will continue helping Vietnam to get access to COVID-19 vaccines, transfer COVID-19 vaccine production technology and provide medical supplies, equipment and medicines for the Southeast Asian nation.

Son asked the ambassador to foster cooperation in the fields of politics, economy-trade, energy-oil and gas, along with relations between the two foreign ministries in an effort to strengthen the bilateral ties.

For his part, Bezdetko spoke highly of Vietnam’s accomplishments in national development and heightening its position on the international arena.

Vietnam is among Russia’s top priorities in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific as well, the ambassador affirmed, pledging that in his new position, he will exert efforts to deepen the bilateral relationship, practically benefiting people of both countries.

Russia will closely collaborate with Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control, and stands ready to provide COVID-19 vaccines and transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnam, he added.

On this occasion, Bezdetko conveyed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s invitation to Son to visit Russia at an appropriate time, which the Vietnamese Minister accepted with pleasure

Source: Vietnam News Agency

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will pay an official visit to Vietnam on July 28-29 at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese foreign ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press conference held online on July 22.

Hang said the visit will contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between the two peoples and armies, implementing agreements reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, and furthering the framework of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.

The US Department of Defence and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence are scheduled to discuss ways to enhance relations between the two countries, realise agreements reached by their high-ranking leaders, and promote the comprehensive partnership, according to the spokeswoman.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi started quarantining all people returning from pandemic-hit areas in dedicated facilities from July 22 as an effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh’s latest dispatch.

The dispatch noted that in the past few days, there were still people who failed to follow pandemic prevention and control measures and large gatherings occurred in some places. Every day, thousands of people from other localities return to the city, carrying the risk of infection in the community.

The city leader asked local authorities to strengthen surveillance in the community, and closely manage and supervise those returning from other provinces and cities to minimise the risk of transmission from pandemic-hit areas.

The Centres for Disease Control, medical examination and treatment facilities, and health centres of districts and towns in the city were urged to quickly take samples for testing for all cases with symptoms such as cough, fever and breathing shortness.

The Hanoi Department of Health should plan to ensure sufficient quarantine sites for 30,000 and 50,000 people, with priority given to outlying districts.

Meanwhile, localities continue to welcome citizens back from Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces who will be put under concentrated quarantine upon arrival. Bamboo Airways has announced to provide free flights to serve passengers wishing to return home.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Government always pays attention to and ensures medical care and health safety of foreigners in the country, including citizens of the Republic of Korea (RoK), especially amidst complex developments of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang made the affirmation while responding to queries regarding the death of a Korean citizen contracting COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, at the ministry’s regular press conference on July 22.

She cited information from the municipal Department of External Affairs as saying that the patient died of the disease at Cho Ray Hospital on July 13.

“We are really sorry and would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved,” Hang said, adding that the patient had been treated at one of the most leading medical facilities in Vietnam and received the wholehearted care of the hospital’s medical staff in the best possible conditions, but it is unfortunate that the patient had not survived.

According to the spokeswoman, Vietnam’s competent agencies have been working with the Korean side to deal with post-death procedures.

Vietnamese agencies and localities will review related protocols and work closely with foreign representative offices in the country to address emerging issues in a timely manner, and avoid the repetition of similar incidents in the future, Hang said

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore is staying in touch with the Vietnamese community in Singapore and guiding them to follow local regulations on pandemic prevention and carry out protective measures so as to protect themselves, their families and the community, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang said during a regular press conference of the ministry held virtually on July 22.

Replying to a question about reports that there are COVID-19 cases among Vietnamese in Singapore, the spokesperson said relevant agencies in Singapore are investigating the source of COVID-19 infections amongst the Vietnamese community in the country.

She added that the Vietnamese Embassy has also been working closely with relevant agencies in Singapore to provide support for the citizens, handle residential procedures and arrange flights to bring those who are in extremely disadvantaged circumstances due to the pandemic back to Vietnam.

Vietnam has asked Singapore to pay attention to treatment for the infected, as well as ensure safety and medical care for Vietnamese who are living, studying and working in the country.

Representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore on July 19 held a meeting with the local press to update them on the situation of the Vietnamese community in Singapore amid the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the community’s contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.

“We hope that the media at large and the Singaporean press in particular will publish objective articles which are based on verified mainstream news sources regarding the situation of the Vietnamese community in Singapore, so as to promote mutual understanding between people of the two countries and the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership,” the spokesperson underlined.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Three million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine supplied by the US via the COVAX Facility will arrive in Vietnam on July 25, unveiled Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang during the ministry’s regular press conference held virtually on July 22.

Responding to a query on the Moderna vaccine batch and outcomes of Vietnam’s “vaccine diplomacy”, the spokesperson said that considering access to various sources of vaccine and quick and large-scale vaccination an important and urgent solution, the “vaccine diplomacy” work has been rolled out in a drastic and urgent manner under the instruction and direct engagement of leaders of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly, along with efforts of numerous ministries and sectors, towards the target of inoculating about 70 percent of Vietnamese population and reaching herd immunity this year.

Hang cited the Ministry of Health as saying that countries, international organisations and partners have to date committed 150 million doses of vaccine for Vietnam through purchase negotiations and assistance.

So far, Vietnam has received over eight million vaccine doses, including about 4.5 million doses through COVAX, 2 million doses from the US via the COVAX Facility, three million doses from Japan, 500,000 doses from China and 1,000 doses from Russia.

In the coming time, COVAX is to supply over 1 million more doses and the US will provide an additional three million doses through COVAX, the spokesperson said, adding that Romania will also give 100,000 doses and Australia 1.5 million doses to Vietnam.

Besides, several countries including India, the UK, Australia, Cuba and Germany have made specific commitments to providing Vietnam with aid and technology transfer.

Vietnam also receives aid in the form of medical supplies, equipment and other resources from UNICEF and countries like Laos, Cambodia, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and more, the spokesperson said.

Along with efforts made in “vaccine diplomacy”, Vietnam also seeks cooperation in research and technology transfer in vaccine development and production in an attempt to ensure long-term domestic supply and become self-reliant in terms of COVID-19 vaccine.

The Foreign Ministry is closely working with the Health Ministry in the negotiations and cooperation with potential partners from the US, Japan, Russia, Cuba, Israel, the UK and Germany in technology transfer in the production of COVID-19 vaccine and medicine.

Vietnam highly appreciates and sincerely thanks partners, countries and international organisations for their timely and practical support, the spokesperson said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien hosted a reception on July 22 for outgoing Cuban Military, Naval and Air Attache Col. Juan Miguel Garcia Montano, and his successor Col. Román Osvaldo Jiménez Ortega.

Chien took this occasion to extend his greetings on the 60th anniversary of the Giron Victory (April 19, 1961-2021) and the success of the eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba.

The Deputy Minister said he was delighted to know that the UN General Assembly on June 23 adopted a resolution on the need of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba.

Sharing with Cuba’s current difficulties and challenges, Chien affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on supporting the ending of the embargo against Cuba and will continue to vote in favour of related resolutions, believing that Cuba will surmount all hardships and challenges, and firmly advance on the socialism building path.

Vietnam will forever bear in mind the great support of the Party, Government, people and armed forces of Cuba for the country’s revolutionary cause and national construction process, and always reminds its future generations to preserve and uphold the Vietnam-Cuba traditional friendship, the officer stressed.

Chien thanked the Cuban side for providing medicine and sending experienced medical workers to assist Vietnam when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, as well as its supply of vaccines and vaccine production technology transfer in the coming time even though Cuba is also facing numerous difficulties.

The assistance reflects the spirit of fraternal comradeship, consistent friendship and solidarity between the two countries, he stressed, believing that Vietnam and Cuba will become a symbol of international cooperation in battling global challenges.

The bilateral relations have been strengthened over the past time despite adverse impacts of COVID-19, as the two nations have maintained effective cooperation in multiple fields, notably national defence industry, training and military medicine, he said, adding that a number of important documents in defence cooperation have been inked and adopted.

For his part, Col. Garcia Montano thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for its close coordination, support and optimal conditions for him to well fulfill his tasks and pledged to continue promoting defence cooperation between the two countries.

On behalf of Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence, Chien presented the token of medical supplies and equipment worth 5 billion VND (217,300 USD) to Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to help the country fight against COVID-19./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Fukushima always warmly welcomes and supports Vietnamese athletes, stated Kohata Hiroshi, Mayor of the city, which the host town of the Vietnamese delegation during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

At a ceremony held by the locality to encourage the Vietnamese sport delegation, Hiroshi said that Fukushima chose to become the host town of Vietnam because he always feels “familiar” when thinking about Vietnam.

He highly valued the enthusiasm of Vietnamese people, especially those living in Fukushima. Along with close contacts between locals and the Vietnamese community, many Japanese firms based in Fukushima have had close relations with Vietnam, he noted.

Meanwhile, Yasuo Shiraiwa, Chairman of the Fukushima-Vietnam Friendship Association, showed a regret that he cannot directly support Vietnamese athletes at the stadium due to the Japanese government’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures. He wished the Vietnamese team will show best performance.

Shiraiwa held that Fukushima’s acting as the host town of the Vietnamese delegation is significant in boosting people-to-people exchange between the two sides. He said he believes that through sporting activities, the friendship between Vietnam and Japan as well as Fukushima in particular will be reinforced.

For his part, Bui Van Hoc, a representative from the Vietnamese Association in Fukushima, wished Vietnamese athletes good health for the highest performance during the sport event.

The ceremony drew a large number of local officials and residents who came to show support to Vietnam.

Located about 300km north east from Tokyo, Fukushima is the capital city of Fukushima prefecture. It has made careful preparations to receive the Vietnamese sport delegation coming to the city for training and exchanging on the threshold of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Source: Vietnam News Agency