Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng hands symbolic token representing US$200,000 as aid from the Vietnamese Government and people to Cambodia to help combat COVID-19 pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng on Thursday presented aid worth US$200,000 to Cambodian Ambassador to Việt Nam Chay Navuth to support the Cambodian government and people in the fight against COVID-19, as the neighbouring country is battling severe community outbreaks.

Addressing the event, Dũng said Việt Nam and Cambodia are neighbours with a long-standing tradition of supporting each other in times of hardship, and expressed his hope that the assistance will help the Cambodian government and people quickly bring COVID-19 under control and accelerate economic recovery and development.

He took the occasion to thank the Cambodian government for giving consideration to the Vietnamese community living and studying in the country and spoke highly of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive for the diplomatic corps, including staff at Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia.

In reply, Cambodian Ambassador Chay Navuth expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Government and people for their support, saying the aid holds significant meaning given Cambodia’s efforts to curb COVID-19 infections in the community.

He also spoke of the success of the Vietnamese Government and people in realising the dual targets of pandemic prevention and economic recovery and development.

In April last year, early in the pandemic, the Vietnamese Government presented an aid package to Cambodia worth more than VNĐ7 billion ($303,500) that included personal protective clothing, face masks, and COVID-19 test kits. — VNS