Viet Nam’s diplomacy has fulfilled its mandate during the pandemic
The domestic and foreign policy priority of any nation during the COVID-19 pandemic is also to ensure the safety and health of its people. Vietnamese leaders in general and the diplomatic sector in particular have been trying their best to carry out this important task, mobilizing maximum resources to fight the COVID-19.
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| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Ambassador Gennady Bezdetko on July 13, 2021. (Photo: VNA) |
The task of securing the supply of COVID-19 vaccine rests on the shoulders of our colleagues at Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad.
Vietnamese diplomats have made great efforts at both bilateral and multilateral levels to promote the strategy of “vaccine diplomacy”, meeting domestic vaccination needs and limiting the spread of COVID-19. We are very pleased with the achievements that our Vietnamese colleagues have achieved in responding to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the organization of diplomatic activities. The majority of activities have been moved to the virtual format, however, this format does not always meet the wishes of the parties. In that context, in a short time, Viet Nam has studied and came up with a new procedure to receive high-level foreign delegations and ensure the safety against the COVID-19 at the same time.
Viet Nam has also implemented policies to recognize vaccine passports with many foreign partners, which contributes to simplifying travel conditions in the context of the pandemic. We hope that the restoration of air transport, including with Russia, will soon be achieved.
Thanks to recent efforts, Viet Nam has succeeded in restoring the exchange of high-level delegations. In the last three months only, two Viet Nam’s high-level delegations have visited Russia, one led by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (from November 29 to December 2) and the other one by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (September). These visits were in compliance with all COVID-19 prevention measures and showcased the effectiveness of the COVID-19 prevention measures that have been applied.
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| Russian Ambassador to Viet Nam Gennady Bezdetko handed over the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine Sputnik to Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan. (Photo: VNA) |
Russia and Viet Nam have worked closely together in the fight against the pandemic. We consider this coordination of actions as one of the most important directions in the future.
Currently, authorized organizations of the two sides have exchanged experiences on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of COVID-19. A number of symposiums have been held with the participation of the Rospotrebnadzor Tropical Center and relevant Vietnamese organizations in order to build a research base for the development and production of vaccines and drugs to cure COVID-19.
Over the past time, Viet Nam has given Russia disinfectants, masks and workwear. Russia has supported Viet Nam with a number of batches of Sputnik-V vaccine, testing systems and reagents for research. Russian epidemiologists were sent to Viet Nam and worked at the Tropical Center. The Russian-made mobile laboratory is carrying out testing tasks for Vietnamese people in remote areas.
Russia and Viet Nam have reached an agreement on supplying Viet Nam with the Sputnik-V vaccines. During the official visit to Russia by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the two sides reached agreements to organize full-cycle production of vaccines Sputnik-V and Sputnik Light in Viet Nam.
We hope that the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam will grant registration at the earliest time for the "Sputnik Light" vaccine, whose effectiveness, after 5 months of vaccination, still reaches 80%.
Ambassador of Russia to Viet Nam
