The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the Vietnamese Alumni in Cuba Club on April 27 handed over gifts in cash and kind to Cuban people to help them combat the novel coronavirus.

The handover ceremony was held at the Vietnam Union of Friendship
Organisations (VUFO) headquarters in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The gifts, including VND1.57 billion and 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, were presented to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association which represents the Cuban people.

They were contributed through a fund-raising campaign by organisations, businesses and individuals who studied and worked in Cuba.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Assoc. Prof. & PhD Nguyen Viet Thao, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association spoke highly of Cuba’s efforts to combat the epidemic as well as its willingness to send health workers to coronavirus hotspots in the world despite numerous difficulties in the country.

He expressed hope that Cuba will soon overcome difficulties and win the battle.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera thanked Vietnamese people for their heart-felt support, noting the gifts were testimony to the solidarity, friendship and close bonds between the two peoples.

She stressed that despite the negative impact of the ongoing embargoes imposed by the US, the Party, State and people of Cuba are making every effort to protect the fruits of socialism on the free island.

According to the diplomat, Cuba had sent more than 1,200 health professionals to 20 countries worldwide to help with the battle against the coronavirus epidemic.

She also expressed her belief that with strong determination, the epidemic will soon be contained in Vietnam, Cuba and many other countries in the world.