HCMC – In a call with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 26, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said that the UK would donate medical equipment worth £500,000 to support Vietnam to combat Covid-19.
This commitment follows the UK Government’s donation of 415,050 doses of the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Vietnam in August 2021.
The UK is also one of the largest donors to the COVAX Facility, providing over £548 million to supply vaccines globally, including to Vietnam.
Commenting on the equipment donation, Minister for Asia Amanda Milling said, “As a strategic partner, the UK stands with Vietnam in our common effort to combat Covid-19. This is part of the UK’s wider commitment to support Vietnam and our partners in ASEAN as we work together to build back better from the pandemic.”
British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said, “The only way to recover from this pandemic is through cooperation. Thanks to our partnership with UNICEF, the medical equipment funded by the UK will be procured and delivered to help those in need, save lives and accelerate Vietnam’s economic recovery.”
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the recent support from the UK on Covid-19 vaccines and medical equipment. During the call, the two Prime Ministers also discussed cooperation in tackling global challenges, including climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. They also committed to deepening the bilateral partnership in trade, investment and security and defense.
The UK has been at the forefront of the global response to Covid-19, including investing £90 million to support the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Over half a billion doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been delivered at a non-profit price globally, with two-thirds going to lower and middle-income countries.
The UK is also a close partner of Vietnam in tackling global health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance and non-communicable diseases.
