Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng presented the symbolic gift representing Việt Nam's medical equipment support for Cambodia to Cambodian Ambassador Chay Navuth on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo |
HÀ NỘI — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng on Friday handed over medical equipment worth over VNĐ7 billion (US$304,000) as gifts from the Vietnamese Government and people to their Lao and Cambodian counterparts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gifts include specialised protective clothing, medical masks, testing systems and COVID-19 test kits.
Addressing the hand-over ceremonies in Hà Nội, Dũng affirmed that Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia are neighbouring countries that always stand side by side together in any circumstance.
Việt Nam hopes that its support will partly help the Lao and Cambodia people overcome difficulties at present, he said.
Dũng suggested the Lao and Cambodian governments continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese communities living in the host countries, enabling them to access necessary medical services in case of COVID-19 infection.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Nguyễn Quốc Dũng presented the symbolic gift to Lao Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo |
He expressed his belief that Laos and Cambodia, together with Việt Nam and other ASEAN member states, will stand united and help each other drive back the pandemic in the spirit of the ASEAN Chair’s Statement on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
Lao Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang and Cambodian Ambassador Chay Navuth said the gifts provide a great source of encouragement for Laos and Cambodia to weather the existing challenges.
They pledged to work closely with Việt Nam to prevent and control the pandemic and strive to maintain bilateral trade along the shared borders. Lao Ambassador also pledged to ensure the best interests of the Vietnamese community in Laos,— VNS