Vietnam wishes for strategic cooperation with AstraZeneca: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnesses the handing over of medical supplies donated by the UK Government (Photo: VNA)

London (VNA) – Vietnam wants to set up strategic cooperation with the AstraZeneca, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a working session with leaders of the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company in the UK on November 2 (local time).

The Vietnamese leader thanked AstraZeneca for its timely supply of vaccines to Vietnam over the past time, thereby making an important contribution to the country’s COVID-19 control. He said he wishes to see AstraZeneca expand its long-term investment and pledged to create favourable conditions for the group to do this.

The Prime Minister suggested AstraZeneca soon hand over the remaining vaccines committed to Vietnam on schedule.

AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot affirmed that his company will work to deliver all vaccines signed with Vietnam in the near future. He expressed his hope for vaccine production in Vietnam while vowing to allocate resources to support the country in digital and smart health solutions to help reduce CO2 emissions, thus contributing to environmental protection.

PM Chinh highlighted the advantages for AstraZeneca when operating in Vietnam such as a potential domestic market that enjoys incentives by 60 countries around the world with which Vietnam has signed free trade agreements. Vietnam also boasts the most open economy in Southeast Asia, he added.

AstraZeneca and Vietnamese partners have reached landmark agreements to help develop the biopharmaceutical industry in the country and support its pandemic prevention and control efforts.

The company will invest 90 million USD to support Vietnam to improve its pharmaceutical production capacity. In the 2022-2030 period, it plans to make three important pharmaceutical products in Vietnam.

In addition, AstraZeneca and the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) also signed an agreement on supply of an additional quantity of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine./.