Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính delivered a pre-recorded speech at the World Bio Summit on Tuesday. —

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính called for solidarity and the sharing of resources to study and produce vaccines and build an advanced bio-medical industry while delivering a pre-recorded speech at the World Bio Summit held in Seoul, Republic of Korea (RoK), on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic and health crisis had attested the significance of accelerating vaccine research and production as well as the bio-medical industry, the leader explained.

PM Chính also stressed the need to promote a modern health sector to effectively cope with diseases and ensure equal access to vaccines and other health products globally.

Việt Nam had been focusing on the research and production of vaccines and health products, and the development of the bio-medical industry, he said, calling for support from partners, including the RoK that is co-hosting the summit.

"As an active, responsible member of the international community, Việt Nam commits to closely and effectively coordinating in the research, production and transfer of technologies, helping to stabilise the global supply chain of vaccines and bio-medical products," he pledged.

Briefing the participants on the fight against COVID-19 in Việt Nam, the PM said the country had successfully implemented the biggest free vaccination campaign.

COVID-19 had been basically brought under control domestically, creating a foundation for rapid, sustainable socio-economic recovery and development, he continued.  

In the first nine months of this year, Việt Nam’s macro-economy remained stable, inflation was controlled at 2.73 per cent and GDP growth reached 8.83 per cent, the highest since 2011.

PM Chính used this occasion to thank international friends, including the RoK, for their donations of vaccines and medical equipment in the pandemic combat.

Together with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the RoK is co-hosting the first World Bio Summit in Seoul on October 25-26.

The summit brought together leaders of the vaccine and biology industries to review key innovations and lessons gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, charting new ways to accelerate research and development to strengthen global health security, the WHO said.

It also convened leaders from international organisations, bio and vaccine manufacturing corporations and development partners, to share the latest transformative technological innovation and trends to shape visions and strategic approaches to advance global bio-health. — VNS