Washington DC (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc hasaffirmed that supporting Vietnamese students is the top priority in its citizenprotection efforts amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the hostcountry.

Talking to VietnamNews Agency correspondents in Washington DC, Ngoc said there are nearly 30,000Vietnamese students living in the US, who are among the groups most vulnerable tothe disease.

The embassy has providedupdated information about the disease for Vietnamese citizens, especiallystudents, and recommended they take preventive meausres and follow regulationson entry and exit procedures and quarantine in both countries, while helpingthose who were stuck at US airports to fly home.

In addition tomaintaining information channels and hotlines around the clock to providetimely assistance for needy students, the embassy has also coordinated with theVietnamese Youth and Student Association in the US and its chapters indifferent states to disseminate information to students and help them in thefight against COVID-19.

Concerns haverecently been raised about the overload of the host country's health andsocial security systems as well as changes to policies which would bedisadvantageous for foreign citizens. However, the Vietnamese embassy hasproactively worked with local authorised offices and asked the US side to takenecessary measures to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizensliving in the country, including the extension of their stays and the grantingof new visas, Ngoc stated.

Sharing the concernsof Vietnamese parents and students in the US at present, the embassy is continuingto strictly implement instructions from the Government, and helping Vietnamesecitizens to book commercial flights organized by Vietnam to return home, headded

Amid the complicateddevelopments of the pandemic, the diplomat noted that students should strictlycomply with local regulations on COVID-19 prevention, practise socialdistancing, and limit road and air travel to avoid the risk of infection.

The embassy will doits utmost to stand side by side with and support Vietnamese citizens,particularly students, he asserted.

Regarding the exportof medical equipment, protective gear and face masks to the US, the ambassadorsaid it will countribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation, including inthe health sector.

In the context thatthe disease is spreading out on a global scale, the US has huge demand formedical products. Vietnam’s supply of these products shows its assistance for partners, including the US, as well as its participation inglobal efforts to fight the disease, Ngoc stated.

However, he notedthat the US side has strict quality requirements for imported medical products.Therefore, he asked Vietnamese businesses to follow instructions from theGovernment and related ministries, especially the Ministries of Public Health,and Industry and Trade, on regulations related to the export of medical equipmentand face masks, and at the same time discuss carefully with US partners aboutproduction and export contracts.

For its part, theembassy will continue updating information on the disease as well as the USside’s requirements for Vietnamese offices and enterprises, Ngoc added./.