HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Phạm Bình Minh held phone talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on Tuesday to discuss cooperation amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minh spoke highly of the assistance the Japanese Government and people had provided Việt Nam in the fight against the pandemic, and asked the Japanese Government to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Japan to prevent and control COVID-19.

As ASEAN Chair 2020, Việt Nam was actively promoting the bloc's concerted efforts and collaboration with partners in the field, he said.

Toshimitsu, for his part, highly valued the drastic measures undertaken by Việt Nam to fight COVID-19. He thanked the Vietnamese Government for its endeavours to ensure safety for the 20,000 Japanese living and working in the Southeast Asian country.

He also affirmed that the Japanese Government would make every effort to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens in Japan.

Japan would continue actively assisting Việt Nam in coping with the epidemic, he said, adding that apart from biological products worth JPY20 million (US$ 184,600 USD) provided for Việt Nam in February and March, Japan would offer aid worth at least JPY200 million (1.84 million) via international organisations.

Both sides highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, as well as the sharing of information and experience in vaccine production, medical equipment and public protection. 

The Japanese side also pledged to partner with Việt Nam to step up work in the field within the ASEAN cooperation framework. — VNS