Vietnam to aid Laos in fight against Covid-19

The Vietnamese government has committed to stand side by side with the Lao government in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the pledge during a telephone conversation with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on Thursday, aiming to enhance cooperation between the two nations against the coronavirus.
According to a Lao government source, Prime Minister Phuc said the Vietnamese government had approved grant assistance worth US$100,000 for work that will contain the spread of Covid-19 in Laos.

On top of that, Vietnam will send teams of medical experts and offer more assistance to Laos in disease prevention and control based on the needs of the evolving situation, he said, according to a report from Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
During the telephone conversation, the Vietnamese Prime Minister proposed the Lao government create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to stabilise their lives and ease their access to essential conditions to prevent the epidemic.
He also called for the Lao side’s close coordination in maintaining social and security stability, especially in border provinces.
Prime Minister Thongloun spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts and successes in containing Covid-19 and expressed his hope that the two countries would enhance information sharing, coordination and mutual support in this field.
According to VNA, the Vietnamese premier also held separate phone talks with Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to discuss coordination between the two countries in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the talks, Prime Minister Phuc stressed that coordination and support between the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak was necessary and significant.
Vietnam was willing to send medical experts to Laos and Cambodia if requested, he said, calling for stronger coordination between the three countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), VNA reported.
In Laos, the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Control and Prevention confirmed on Thursday that three more people were infected with the coronavirus bringing total infections to six.
The government will continue to strengthen its cooperation with countries that have fought or are battling the virus outbreak.   

By Keoviengkhone Bounviseth
(Latest Update March 30, 2020)