Prime Minister chairs meeting on vaccine diplomacy
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 30 chaired a meeting with People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and Vietnamese embassies and representative agencies abroad on vaccine diplomacy.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 30 chaired a meeting with People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and Vietnamese embassies and representative agencies abroad on vaccine diplomacy.
The event, which was held in both face-to-face and virtual forms, focused on reviewing outcomes of the work in the past and drawing lessons to push up economic diplomacy in the new situation.
Opening the meeting, the Government leader said a year ago, the Government issued Resolution 128/NQ-CP on safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the vaccine strategy. The shift has so far proven effective and timely, he said, elaborating that the economy grew strongly from negative growth in the third quarter of 2021 and the country has successfully controlled the pandemic.
Earlier, the Government launched a vaccine strategy with three contents: setting up a COVID-19 vaccine prevention fund, conducting vaccine diplomacy and establishing a Government working group on vaccine diplomacy with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the core, the PM noted.
"Despite difficulties, we managed to have enough vaccine sources for pandemic prevention and control," he noted.
Highlighting the important role of diplomacy in the country's socio-economic development, the Government le෴ader said that valuable lessons learned from vaccine diplomacy work over the past time will apply to economic diplomacy for rapid recovery and sustainable development./.
As of October 18, Vietnam had received 92.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and administered more than 64 million doses. Results of the vaccination campaign are critical to the safe adaptation to the pandemic.
Amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of new variants, Vietnam will continue stepping up vaccine diplomacy in the near future to meet vaccination demand in the country next year, said Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.
Vietnam became the 53rd country in the world achieving the goal of covering basic doses of COVID-19 vaccine for 70 percent of its population, according to covidvax.live, a website that updates the vaccination speed worldwide every day.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a hybrid conference with overseas representative agencies of Vietnam on November 28 with a view to promoting economic diplomacy.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) 
