The country is ready to provide timely support and share its own experience in combating the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic with other nations, in addition to making financial contributions to the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Response Fund.

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung attends the UN Security
Council’s Open Debate on Pandemics and Security  

The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung in July 2 during the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on Pandemics and Security hosted by German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dung underscored the importance of increasing co-operation efforts in an attempt to cope with the COVID-19 and to initiate a sustainable socio-economic recovery, whilst also emphasising that multilateral organisations, such as the UN play a central role in co-ordinating international efforts to contain the virus.

The speech also urged all parties currently in armed conflict to comply with the UN Secretary General's call for a global ceasefire, with the Security Council giving a strong message that nations should take actions to ease tensions, build trust, whilst promoting reconciliation and dialogue to seek long-term solutions to conflicts. The Deputy FM welcomed the Security Council’s adoption of Resolution No. 2532 on COVID-19 Response with 15/15 votes in favour.

The Vietnamese diplomat suggested that the UN Security Council direct the Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions to work in co-operation with relevant UN agencies, particularly the WHO, as a means of assisting host countries to fight the pandemic and allow them to prepare for possible outbreaks in the future.

The nation therefore backs calls by UN leaders for a waiver of sanctions that affects COVID-19 response efforts, anticipating that the Security Council and its members will take appropriate measures to facilitate humanitarian assistance for countries whose citizens have suffered as a result of economic sanctions, the Deputy FM said

In order to prevent the negative impact of the epidemic, the country mobilised the full support of the entire political system to implement a range of specific measures and actions in a swift manner. As a result, the nation has so far yielded positive results in controlling the spread of the disease whilst ensuring that socio-economic activities return to normal, the diplomat said.

He also highlighted international solidarity and the strengthening of multilateralism as a solution to help the international community overcome the immediate challenges posed by the COVID-19 and helping to accelerate the process of implementing targets set out within the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.