Vietnam - Cuba close ties amid COVID-19 fight highlighted in Havana

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At the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

The friendship and sound cooperation exhibited between Vietnam and Cuba in times of hardship, particularly in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, were honoured at a symbolic ceremony for the presentation of gifts from Vietnam to Cuba on July 30 in Havana.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Ana Teresita González Fraga praised the results achieved by Vietnam and Cuba in the face of the disease and the achievements of the two countries in fighting the pandemic and upholding their solidarity and international cooperation manifest the preeminence of socialism in protecting the health, life, and rights of the people.

She also underlined the mutual aid between the countries during the year they celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1960-2020), and reaffirmed a wish to further bolster cooperation and diversify economic relations.

Vietnam is Cuba’s leading investor from Asia and Oceania and second largest trade partner.

Vietnamese Charge d’Affaires to Cuba Do Dinh Truong expressed his gratitude to Cuba for sending medicine and health experts to share their experience in the control of the new strain of the coronavirus and in vaccine research, adding that this is symbolic of the special friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and mutual trust between the two countries and their people.

At the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

In recent months, Vietnam's governments, businesses, and people have donated supplies such quick test kits, medical masks, personal protective equipment and rice as well as cash donation to assist the fight against COVID-19 in the Caribbean nation.

The central Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the club of Vietnamese alumni once studied in Cuba in April also started a campaign and raised over VND1,57 billion (USD 66.000) to help Cuba in the fight against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association also granted funding to support Cuban citizens in the southern city in lessening the impact of COVID-19.

Last month, Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence presented three tons of antiepidemic medical supplies to Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera.

Up to 5,000 tonnes of rice that are the gift of the Vietnamese Party, State and people for the Cuban people to support their COVID-19 fight were symbolically presented at a ceremony in Hai Phong on July 1.

In May, the Cuban Ambassador has symbolically received 100 tonnes of rice from Viglacera’s Vimariel S.A company based at the Mariel special economic zone in Cuba for frontline medical staff fighting COVID-19 in the country.

While countries around the world face severe mask shortages, Vietnam's governments, businesses, and people have been began to support and provide material assistance to nations struggling to equip frontline medical workers.

The aid illustrates Vietnam’s continued willingness to assist other countries on a bilateral and multilateral basis to the best of its abilities even as it continues to remain cautious about managing its own coronavirus challenge at home.

As of August 1, Cuba has diagnosed 2,633 COVID-19 cases and the death toll remains at 87. A total of 2,367 patients have recovered from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, August 1 afternoon saw Vietnam record 28 new infections, bringing the total count to 40 cases in a single day, and to 586 nationwide.

On the same day, the country reported its third COVID-19-related death./.

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