Int’l cooperation needed for COVID-19 fight: Official

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on January 15 highlighted the need to
enhance in the fight against , especially as the
disease still threatens the lives of millions of people around the world.

Addressing a seminar
held jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy in Vietnam
to discuss measures to further promote international cooperation in responding to
, Dung said no country or territory can control the pandemic
on its own.

Along with domestic efforts to contain the spread of the disease, as a responsible
member of the international community, Vietnam advocates the policy of joining hands
with other countries in the fight, Dung affirmed.

Vietnam supports the World Health Organisation (WHO)
in its role in coordinating global pandemic control efforts, Dung said, adding that
as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 Vietnam promoted intra-bloc cooperation in preventing
and controlling the pandemic.

Within the framework of the UN, Vietnam proposed an “International Day of Epidemic Preparedness”, which aims to raise the awareness of individuals, communities, states,
and the international community on the need to have a permanent sense of epidemic
prevention in all activities.

The initiative was approved by the UN, receiving huge support and sponsorship from the international community,
the official said.

WHO Chief Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park said Vietnam’s pandemic prevention
efforts have proven effective compared to countries with a larger or equal population.

He congratulated the country on clinical trial of its first COVID-19 vaccine, expressing
his hope that it will record more achievements in vaccine production.

Participants discussed Vietnam’s experience and policies on bilateral and
multilateral cooperation in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other
health threats, and the role of WHO in disease prevention.

They also emphasised the necessity of further enhancing global coordination in producing
vaccines./.