Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi (Photo: VNA) Khoi told the Vietnam NewsAgency that facing complex developments of the pandemic, the embassy set up aspecial working group for enhancing cooperation with Russia in COVID-19prevention and control, as well as seeking sources of vaccine, drug, andmedical supplies.
This group is tasked withlearning Russia’s experience in the COVID-19 fight, assessing the pandemic situation,and seeking medicine and vaccine sources to work with relevant agencies in thehomeland to purchase.
There are two Vietnamesecompanies designated to provide COVID-19 vaccine from Russia for domestic use. Vabiotechhas received technology transferred from Russia to bottle Sputnik V in Vietnamwhile T&T has been assigned to buy 40 million doses of this vaccine.
The first batch of Sputnik Vis expected to be bottled in August and early September, according to theambassador.
Russia is ready to cooperatewith Vietnam, but there are also certain objective difficulties, he said,pointing out that Russia is stepping up vaccination nationwide, and it has alsosigned contracts with many countries and partners around the world since theyear’s beginning.
It’s now the peak time forvaccine delivery, so it is not until September that Vietnam can receive the firstbatch of vaccine from Russia, Khoi noted.
The diplomat said “vaccinediplomacy” is a new definition, but Vietnamese people in Russia form a big andunited community that has deep understanding of the host nation and goodrelations with many local ministries, sectors, agencies and businesses, thus greatlyhelping the embassy find partners and drug and vaccine sources.
In addition, many Vietnamesestudents working at hospitals in Russia have also shared anti-pandemic experiencewith the embassy to report to domestic agencies, he added./.
VNA
