Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on July 30 handed over medical equipment worth US$250,000 as gifts from the Vietnamese government to a number of African countries to help them combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung speaks at the ceremony to hand
over Vietnamese medical supplies to a number of African countries 

The medical supplies include antibacterial cloth masks, medical masks and SARS-CoV-2 virus test kits which are all made in Vietnam. The products will be delivered to Algeria, Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Dung noted that Vietnam follows with keen interest the development of COVID-19 in the African countries, while highly valuing the countries’ efforts in responding to the pandemic.

Vietnam shares difficulties countries worldwide, including African countries, are faced with in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has decided to allocate part of its resources to African countries to help their people overcome the crisis, said Dung.

He went on to say the recipient countries are Vietnam’s traditional friends that have provided valuable assistance to Vietnam during the past struggle for national reunification and the current cause of national development and global integration.

Vietnam is ready to share its experience in COVID-19 prevention and control with African countries as well as the international friends, he stressed.

At the ceremony, ambassadors of the recipient countries expressed their gratitude to the Government and people of Vietnam, emphasizing that the medical supplies are not only valuable material support, but also testimony to the traditional friendship between Africa and Vietnam.

The diplomats also spoke highly of Vietnam’s initial success in disease containment over the past time, considering the country as a role model in COVID-19 prevention. They affirmed that their countries will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in cushioning the impact of the pandemic on socio-economic development in their respective countries.