FM spokesperson affirms Vietnam’s efforts against coronavirus outbreak

Thứ Sáu, 07/02/2020, 14:58
Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed Vietnam’s citizen protection efforts amid coronavirus outbreak at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on February 6.

“Right after the epidemic information released, the Foreign Ministry has actively asked Vietnamese diplomatic missions in foreign countries, including China to frequently update the epidemic situation and Vietnamese citizen’s aspiration in host countries. 

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.

The Foreign Ministry has announced hot lines of all Vietnamese representative offices in China as they are ready to provide support and protection when necessary,” Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said.

Hang confirmed that there is one Vietnamese positive with coronavirus who is under treatment in Jiangxi. 29 requests for return to Vietnam submitted by Vietnamese citizens in Hubei are processed with the highest efforts to bring them home. Vietnam has provided humanitarian aids worth half a million US dollars to China and praised Chinese efforts in containing the epidemic.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the impact of epidemics on Vietnam’s external affairs, Hang said Vietnam is actively taking measures to respond to and control them.

Vietnam will fully exercise obligations of an ASEAN member state and be determined to well perform the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020, she stated. 

According to the spokeswoman, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, in his capacity as Chairman of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, sent letters to ASEAN countries on January 31 to suggest establishing a ministerial-level joint working group so as to enhance cooperation and information sharing, as well as coordinate actions to fight epidemics.

Vietnam will continue keeping a close watch on the developments of the epidemics, she said, adding that in case any adjustments to the ASEAN Chair Year’s activities need to be made, the country will inform and consult with other nations based on ASEAN consensus, thus ensuring that the activities during the year will be held in the safest conditions.

By Thien Minh