Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue (R) hands over medical face masks to a representative of the Italian side (Photo: VNA) Roma (VNA) – Many organisations, businesses and individuals in Vietnam havedonated medical supplies to help Italy in the fight against COVID-19, showingthe Southeast Asian nation’s solidarity, sharing and responsible internationalcooperation, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue.
According to the diplomat, the embassy has actively participated in mobilisingmedical supplies to support the host country in its efforts to contain thedisease.
On April 17, more than 100,000 face masks gifted by the Vietnamese Government,along with 23,000 face masks, 500 protective suits and other medical suppliesdonated by businesses and individuals in Vietnam, were handed over to Italy,one of the European countries hardest hit by the novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2).
Previously, the Uni-Italia Association in Vietnam and the Vietnam -Italy Friendship Association also presented 8,500 face masks to the Italianside.
Hue said these valuable medical supplies have been delivered directly tooverseas Vietnamese people and students living, studying and working across theEuropean nation; local civil protection agencies in the epidemic-hit centres;and hospitals, nursing homes, police departments in Rome, and other regions.
According to the diplomat, Government and State leaders of Italy, localgovernments, the Vietnamese community and international friends in the hostcountry all expressed their appreciation of Vietnam's valuable assistance toItaly in the most difficult days in the country’s history since the World WarII.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maioexpressed their thanks to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Government andpeople of Vietnam for joining hands with Italy in the fight against Covid-19.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that this support affirmedthe practical significance of the Vietnam - Italy strategic partnership, addingthat Vietnam’s assistance will help Italy come to recovery soon.
Italy currently records the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in theworld, after the US and Spain, with 218,268 infections and 30,395 deaths as ofMay 9./.
VNA
