A shipment of 2 tonnes of medical and antimicrobial masks as the gift from Vietnam’s Hanoi capital to New York to help combat the novel coronavirus pandemic has arrived in the US city.

Hanoi mayor Nguyen Duc Chung presented symbolic masks as the gift from
Hanoi to the US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink on June 1
(Photo:VNA) 

Addressing the handover ceremony on July 9, Penny Abeywardena, New York Council commissioner and head of the Mayor Office for International Affairs, extended the local administration’s sincere thanks to the Hanoi government and people.

The gift is of very practical significance for us at a time when New York City is still struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, said Abeywardena.

Vietnamese Ambassador and Head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN Dang Dinh Quy expressed his wish that Hanoi’s gift will make a contribution to New Yorkers’ efforts to respond to and overcome the difficult time.

The Ambassador said he hopes New York and Hanoi cities will have many opportunities for cooperation in the future, especially between the two business communities to promote socio-economic development and overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.

On June 1, Hanoi mayor Nguyen Duc Chung presented symbolic masks made in Vietnam and meeting European Union quality standards to New York City through the US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink.

To date New York city has recorded more than 220,000 cases of COVID-19, accounting for 50% of all cases confirmed in New York state, and 22,000 people have died of the disease.

New York is still imposing travel restrictions and other preventive measures, including wearing masks in public places.