Vaccine diplomacy is very important and urgent: Minister
Vaccine diplomacy is very important and urgent at this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a meeting of the government's working group on vaccine diplomacy on September 8.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (middle) speaks at the event.(Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vaccine diplomacy is very important and urgent at this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a meeting of the government's working group on vaccine diplomacy on September 8.
Son, who is the head of the working group, said with utmost efforts, the country is expected to receive about 16-17 million more doses of vaccines this month. He underlined the need to keep trying to get more vaccines.
It is necessary to continue promoting vaccine advocacy at all levels, especially high-level, within bilateral and multilateral frameworks and urging vaccine manufacturers to speed up the supply to Vietnam as well as calling on partners with excess capacity to cede or lend, he said, adding that the working group should explore new and potential vaccines being developed for early access, study and immediately promote the vaccine access and mobilisation plan for 2022.
Son emphasised that it is the policy of the Party and Government that vaccination is provided free of charge for the entire population and for foreigners living and working in Vietnam.
He asked members of the working group and 94 Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to continue to cooperate more closely, with greater determination and efforts to contribute to the common efforts of the whole Party and the people in the fight to repel the pandemic and bring the country back to new normal.
Participants at the meeting discussed and agreed on many solutions suitable to the current situation in order to further improve the efficiency of mobilisation, and solve issues relating to procedures for transporting and receiving vaccines, medicine and equipment to bring to the country as quickly as possible.
The meeting focused on reviewing the results of vaccine diplomacy oཧver the past three weeks since the group was established, and agreed on measures to further promote the mobilisation for vaccines, medicines, and medical equipment serving the pandemic prevention and control in the current period./.
Pushing ahead with vaccine diplomacy is among the tasks Vietnam’s overseas representative bodies have been asked to perform so as to help achieve the “twin targets” in the last half of 2021.
A government working group on COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, has been set up under a decision signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, who heads the Working Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy, has stressed the group's resolve to promote vaccine diplomacy for the country's fastest access to COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment and drugs to treat the disease.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 18 sent a letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel suggesting the European Union (EU) share COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam, in an effort to step up the vaccine diplomacy strategy.
CEO of AstraZeneca Pascal Soriot has pledged to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam on schedule as well as increase vaccine supplies to the country this month.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia has been making active moves to boost “vaccine diplomacy” to assist the battle against COVID-19 in the homeland, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi said.
The Italian Government on August 25 decided to present Vietnam with 801,600 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX Facility to aid the nation’s fight against the pandemic.
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The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
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Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
The Party and the Government pay special attention to accelerating the development of clean and green energy sources to support double-digit socio-economic growth target and ensure national energy security, focusing on developing the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plants.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (middle) speaks at the event.(Photo: VNA) 
