Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Washington D.C (VNA) – The US stands ready to
cooperate with Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel
(COVID-19), US officials said at a recent meeting with
representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country.
The meeting, which took place on February 19, saw the
participation of Erika Elvander, Director
of the Asia-Pacific Office under the US Department
of Health and Human Services,
and Mitchell Wolfe, Chief Medical Officer of the US Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The US officials applauded Vietnam’s medical
capacity, especially in the control of the epidemic.
Vietnamese leaders, from central to grassroots
levels, have issued timely instructions and taken comprehensive, drastic
measures to combat the disease, they said, lauding Vietnam’s efforts in
improving public awareness of the virus.
The US side expressed its belief that with a good
medical infrastructure system and a widespread vaccination network, Vietnam
will effectively combat the epidemic.
The US officials also praised Vietnam’s close, effective
cooperation in the work as the country has regularly exchanged relevant
information and experience.
US scientists are joining efforts in the study of
COVID-19 to seek preventive measures, they said, adding that some US
laboratories have developed a vaccine that could be ready for human
testing within two months and for use within six months to one year.
Regarding ASEAN-US cooperation, the US side said
Vietnam, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, has promptly responded to
COVID-19 and raised initiatives in regional cooperation against the illness.
The US Department of Health and
Human Services
is willing to step up medical collaboration with the ASEAN, particularly in the
virus fight, through the ASEAN-US mechanism and at international organisations
such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The CDC plans to send a
working group to Vietnam in March to discuss cooperation and the establishment
of a CDC office in the Southeast Asian nation, the US officials said.
They added that US offices,
including the International Reagent Resources, is ready to share their COVID-19
research outcomes, exchange experts and provide test kits and personal
protection equipment for Vietnam to help the country improve is capacity to
fight the disease.
At the meeting, the
Vietnamese side briefed the US officials on Vietnam’s prevention and control of
COVID-19, and thanked the US for its cooperation over the past time.
The Vietnamese officials
suggested the US implement more projects to help Vietnam and ASEAN enhance
their medical capacity, while further facilitating economic and trade ties as
well as people-to-people exchanges, especially at a time when Vietnam and the
US are celebrating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1995-2020), and
Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair 2020./.
Source: VietnamPlus
