VN, UK enhance cooperation in combating COVID-19

VGP – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung held phone talks with Minister of State at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Nigel Adams on April 16 to discuss cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and enhancing bilateral relations.

April 17, 2020 10:33 AM GMT+7

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung phone talks with Minister of State at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Nigel Adams

Dung informed the UK official about measures actively undertaken by Viet Nam and affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s determination to curb the spread of the disease, thus ensuring the safety of Vietnamese citizens as well as foreign nationals working and living in the country.

Viet Nam is willing to share information and experience in the battle against the pandemic, he said, asking the UK to share its experience and researches related to COVID-19 treatment in an effort to help improve public health capacity and contribute to repelling the disease on a global scale.

Dung proposed that the UK offer medical support and favorable conditions to Vietnamese citizens living and working in the UK during the pandemic period.

For his part, Adams congratulated Viet Nam on successfully organizing the online Special ASEAN and ASEAN 3 Summits on COVID-19, which he said, reflected the country’s active and proactive role in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020.

He highly appreciated the significant achievements Viet Nam has obtained in the fight against COVID-19, expressing his wish that the two countries share information and strengthen cooperation in the field regarding both bilateral and multilateral aspects, whilst promoting their voices to promote international efforts in combating the disease, especially as Viet Nam assumes important responsibilities in ASEAN and the UN Security Council.

Adams expressed his gratitude for the Vietnamese Government’s donation of 110,000 anti-bacterial cloth masks to the UK, as well as its facilitation of the flight carrying British citizens home safely.

As 2020 marks the 10^th anniversary of Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to further improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, accelerate bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, security, defense, education and culture, and closely coordinate at international and regional forums when Viet Nam holds the position of ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

By Vien Nhu