Hanoi, 26 August 2021 (TDI): U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris annouced that US will donate an additional one million Pfizer mRNA vaccine doses to Vietnam during her meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Pham thanked both the American Administration and people who donated vaccines and medical supplies. He also welcomes the launch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Southeast Asia Regional Office in Hanoi.
Harris is the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit Vietnam, said that the U.S. will continue to provide medical supplies and assist Vietnam’s capacity to handle health threats. In addition, She emphasized that the U.S. will maintain priority to fostering cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in areas such as economy, trade, climate change adaptation, science and technology, and healthcare. The U.S. also pledged continuous assistance for Vietnam in overcoming war consequences, take part in UN-led peacekeeping operations, and enhance maritime security capabilities.
On the other hand, Pham reassures his country to maintain consistency on its foreign policy – independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralization of external relations, proactive and active international integration. He also emphasized the importance of advancing partnership with the U.S. for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
The issues of Mekong and Myanmar, the central role of ASEAN over the East Sea, and the principles of respecting international law in cooperation and settlement of regional issues were highlighted by the U.S. and Vietnam in regards to the regional and international situation.
