Vietnam ready to share experience in combating COVID-19

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh

Regarding the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in the context of the increasingly complicated development of the pandemic, Vinh emphasized that the major focus of current international cooperation should be placed on ensuring transparency and boosting information and experience sharing, particularly in scientific and technological research and giving mutual assistance and support in resources, including medical equipment and supplies.

Talking about the active cooperation of Vietnam with other nations in sharing epidemic prevention experience which has earned international plaudits, the Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that Vietnam has taken timely actions while raising its responsibility for COVID-19 epidemic fight.

The country has shared information and experience, and closely coordinated with the World Health Organization (WHO) alongside numerous countries inside and outside the region in disease control.

"Within our capacity, we have helped many other countries, on the contrary, we have also received plentiful resources from them. This indicates that cooperation is very important as it shows both Vietnam's capacity to become involved in international integration and spur national development," he noted.

Right from the onset of performing its role as Chair of ASEAN, Vietnam has been very active in sharing information regarding the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with the regional bloc.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as ASEAN Chair, had many online meetings and conducted telephone conversations with ASEAN leaders as well as those from ASEAN partners in an attempt to share experience and information about their coordination in pandemic combat, the former Deputy FM said.

Concerning medical diplomacy in epidemic prevention, Minh stressed that medical diplomacy will be an integral part of Vietnam's diplomacy, underlining the need for building cooperation mechanisms, especially drawing out emergency response plans in the event of the ongoing pandemic.