Vietnamese people assists African countries in COVID-19 combat
The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa presented 100,000 face masks to the representative missions of Namibia and Botswana in Pretoria on August 13 to help people in the latter countries cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi (R) presents face masks donated by Vietnamese people to Namibian Ambassador Veiccoh K. Nghiwete on August 13 (Photo: VNA)
Pretoria (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in SouthAfrica presented 100,000 face masks to the representative missions of Namibia andBotswana in Pretoria on August 13 to help people in the latter countriescope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Talking to the ambassador of Namibia and the chargé d’affairesof Botswana, Vietnamese Ambassador Hoang Van Loi said the face masks were donatedby Vietnamese people in South Africa to help people in the countries that hisembassy is in charge of to fight COVID-19.
Mentioning the pandemic situation in Vietnam, he said theGovernment views the COVID-19 combat as the most urgent task at present, andthat Vietnam always gives the top priority to people’s health and lives.
He also shared Vietnam’s experiences in pandemicprevention and control and discussed the countries’ cooperation chances withthe other diplomats.
Namibian Ambassador toSouth Africa Veiccoh K. Nghiwete appreciated the support, described it as a demonstration ofthe friendship, fraternity, and solidarity between the peoples of Vietnam andhis country.
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi (L) presents face masks to Chargé d’Affaires of Botswana Tiny Mothobi on August 13 (Photo: VNA)
For her part, Chargé d’Affaires of Botswana Tiny Mothobi alsoexpressed thanks to the Vietnamese people, noting that the face masks will besent to her homeland as soon as possible.
As of August 13, Botswana with a population ofover 2.4 million recorded 136,758 cases of COVID-19, including 1,973 deaths. Withnearly 2.6 million people, Namibia saw 122,097 infections, 3,262 of whomsuccumbed to the disease, data show.
Earlier, the Vietnamese embassy in South Africa also presented face masks tothe representative agency of Eswatini and contacted those of Lesothoand Zimbabwe in order to give them with 50,000 masks each.
The embassy has also sent delegations to hand overface masks to schools in Pretoria, and plans to continue the maskpresentation programme in other localities like Eastern Cape and Northern Capeprovinces as suggested by the South African Department of InternationalRelations and Cooperation./.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony on June 7 to receive 100 million VND (4,350 USD) from Dr Phan Bich Thien, a Vietnamese Hungarian, to support COVID-19 prevention and control activities in Vietnam.
Cambodia always appreciates Vietnam’s assistance during its difficult times, King Norodom Sihamoni said while receiving outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, who came to bid farewell on June 29.
Members of “Stay Strong Saigon” - a project of young Vietnamese people in the US in coordination with members of the “Vietnam - Unite for Vietnam” project to launch a campaign to donate 20,000 N95 face masks to frontline forces in the COVID-19 fight in Ho Chi Minh City, according to The Gioi va Viet Nam (World and Vietnam) newspaper.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5, during which he thanked the Swiss Government for the timely and valuable help when Vietnam is coping with a resurgence of COVID-19.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi (R) presents face masks donated by Vietnamese people to Namibian Ambassador Veiccoh K. Nghiwete on August 13 (Photo: VNA) 
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi (L) presents face masks to Chargé d’Affaires of Botswana Tiny Mothobi on August 13 (Photo: VNA) 
