HCMC – After controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is now discussing a step-by-step approach to reopening air routes with countries such as China, South Korea and Japan in line with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a press conference on June 18.
“At first, we will create favorable conditions for experts and managers from these countries to return to Vietnam for work and for Vietnamese interns and workers to travel to these countries,” Hang noted.
According to the national committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control, the Government should continue to tighten control over travel and migration to prevent infection within the community and safeguard the country’s achievements in fighting the pandemic.
The committee stressed that Vietnam should only allow foreign experts, investors, diplomats and high-level officials to stay in the country for a short period of time so they can finish their work, such as negotiating and signing contracts.
The committee assigned Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung to lead a team in charge of collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure epidemiological safety and sufficient Covid-19 testing facilities for foreign experts, investors and diplomats coming to Vietnam.
Until now, Vietnam has repatriated over 8,000 citizens from Covid-19-hit countries.
The committee also proposed that the Government consider reopening commercial flights with countries and territories that have controlled the Covid-19 pandemic, improve its quick Covid-19 testing capacity and assign military-run telecoms carrier Viettel and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group with managing a group responsible for identifying new Covid-19 cases and ensuring timely preventive measures.