Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Adjustments to Việt Nam’s entry regulations amid the rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic are based on the principle of non-discrimination, said spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng on Friday.
She said that in the context of the outbreak, many countries and territories, including member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), had put restrictive measures in place at different levels for the entry of foreigners.
"Việt Nam’s recent measures are based on the development of the pandemic and in accordance with the provisions of International Health Regulations. They are being carried out on the principle of non-discrimination," she affirmed.
"Compulsory health monitoring and quarantine measures are applied to both Vietnamese and foreigners with the primary goal of ensuring the safety and health of Vietnamese citizens and overseas visitors in Việt Nam, as well as preventing and curbing the spread of the pandemic in the community," the spokesperson said.
"Việt Nam highly appreciates and hopes to receive more understanding, sharing and cooperation from other countries and territories in implementing these decisions."
"The country will continue keeping a close watch on the situation to promptly make appropriate adjustments," Hằng said.
While answering reporters’ queries about whether there was discrimination of foreigners during COVID-19, the spokesperson stressed that the country’s ministries and localities had taken measures according to the government’s directions to prevent the pandemic effectively as well as ensuring the safety and health of Vietnamese and foreign citizens in Việt Nam.
In a humanitarian spirit, the Vietnamese government had instructed care and support to ensure both locals and foreigners have normal and safe daily lives and receive medical monitoring, care and treatment when necessary. Those actions had been highly appreciated by foreign citizens, authorities of other countries and the international community.
Việt Nam thanked other countries and territories for their close coordination and regular updates on the situation of Vietnamese citizens overseas as well as helping them to address difficulties caused by the pandemic and offering active treatment for infected cases.
"Việt Nam hopes that a humanitarian, fair and non-discriminatory spirit will be upheld and spread throughout the world so that citizens of all countries and territories are ensured security, safety, and good health care," the spokesperson said.
"Việt Nam believes that with the joint efforts of the international community, the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be repelled," she added. — VNS