US Ambassador to Việt Nam Daniel Kritenbrink receives medical supplies from Associate Professor Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu, Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Red Cross Society, at a ceremony held in Hà Nội on Wednesday. —  VNS Photo Thanh Hải

HÀ NỘI — US Ambassador to Việt Nam Daniel Kritenbrink expressed his gratitude for a donation of 420,000 medical masks on behalf of the American Red Cross in a handover ceremony on Wednesday.

The donation includes 120,000 masks donated by the Việt Nam Red Cross, and 300,000 masks donated by the Việt Nam-US Alumni Club (VUSAC)-Hà Nội. 

VUSAC Hà Nội sent out a call to its members for donations to buy face masks as gifts for the American people, who are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a matter of weeks, VUSAC members and contributors have managed to raise VNĐ1.26 billion from more than 900 individuals and organisations throughout Việt Nam and overseas. 

Accepting the donations from Associate Professor Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu, Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Red Cross Society, the US diplomat said: “I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Việt Nam Red Cross Society and the hundreds of individuals and organisations who contributed to this donation through VUSAC Hà Nội.”

“I have always believed that people-to-people relations are the most solid foundation for close and lasting ties between nations. I am so honoured to be witnessing this outpouring of love and support,” he continued.

US Ambassador to Việt Nam Daniel J. Kritenbrink praised the Government of Việt Nam for its outstanding work and results in response to COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam.

“Throughout Vietnamese history, whenever Việt Nam was in danger, Vietnamese people would exercise the greatest unity in their fight against the common threat. That spirit is still alive and well in Việt Nam, as you were showing in this fight against COVID-19,” said Kritenbrink.

“So, again, I'm happy to see the spirit of unity that this crisis has brought out, not just in Việt Nam, but all over the world, and especially between the people of Vietnam and the people of the United States,” added Kritenbrink.

 “300,000 masks is a very small number compared to what is needed in the US, but we are proud to say that there is so much love behind every one of those masks,” said President of VUSAC-Hà Nội Nguyễn Thu Hà.

It’s also a small token to contribute to the 25th anniversary of the normalisation of US-Việt Nam relations this year, she said.

The President of Red Cross Việt Nam Xuân Thu said that Việt Nam and the United States can share a lot of practical experience and lessons learnt in the prevention of Covid-19 pandemic. At present, Việt Nam has well-controlled the spread of the pandemic as the current number of COVID-19 cases still stood at 270 cases and no deaths were reported in the country.— VNS