Viet Nam has entered “new normal”, allowing the country to restart the economy, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while addressing the 73rd Session of the World Health Organization Assembly on Tuesday. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the 73rd Session of the World Health
Organization Assembly on May 19, 2020 at the invitation of Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesusthe - WHO Director-General. Photo: VGP

The event drew the participation of 15 special guests who are State/Government heads and nearly 150 health leaders.

PM Phuc expressed sympathies to the Governments and people around the world over the great losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and extended gratitude to all health workers and other frontliners who have worked hard to ensure public safety.

Having been deeply aware of the pandemic severity from the very early days, Viet Nam has mobilized the involvement of authorities at all levels, national healthcare system, scientists and other forces in implementing drastic measures, including centralized quarantine, control of transmission sources, contact tracing, testing and treatment, Phuc said. 

The Government’s policies and containment measures have been widely supported by the public, he added.

The country, with a population of nearly 100 million, has gone 32 days without new community infection and kept the patient tally at a relatively low of more than 320.

In a solidarity move, the Government, organizations, businesses and individuals have timely donated made-in-Viet Nam medical supplies to and share experience with several countries, particularly those hit hardest, he said.

He called on countries to further enhance solidarity and mobilize resources to effectively curb the pandemic while working together to handle its far-reaching consequences.

As the current ASEAN Chair, Viet Nam has led and participated in a number of meetings to rally efforts and pushed forward initiatives for joint actions against the pandemic.

Phuc expressed his strong belief that the international community will continue promoting the will and strength of each nation as well as the solidarity and cooperation to overcome this global crisis and build better future for each country and people./.