Turkey offers COVID-19 vaccine, medical supplies to Vietnam
VOV.VN - Turkey will provide Vietnam with 200,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, oxygen generators and other medical equipment to help it combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay made the announcement during his oonline talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 12.
Oktay congratulated Vietnam on its achievements, especially in flexibly and effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and gradually promoting socio-economic development.
He affirmed Turkey wants to further enhance its multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam.
For his part, PM Pham Minh Chinh thanked Turkey for its goodwill, and expressed his hope the two countries will share experience and coordinate closely in the COVID-19 fight, as well as reopening their economies and boosting trade ties.
The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges at all levels, consider soon opening the Consulate General of Turkey in Ho Chi Minh City, and effectively bring into full play existing cooperation mechanisms.
Vice President Oktay emphasized that despite the COVID-19 impact, trade turnover between the two countries in the eight opening months of 2021 rose 26% year on year to more than US$1 billion. Vietnam continued to enjoy trade surplus, with its exports making up 75-80% of the total trade value.
In addition, Turkey is currently the largest Middle East investor in Vietnam with a total direct investment capital of over US$700 million.
The two leaders shared the view that both Vietnam and Turkey boast potential for further cooperation in the coming time. They stressed the need to roll out such measures as starting negotiations of the bilateral free trade agreement and promoting cooperation in air transport and other spheres.
Turkey said it is ready to share its experience in the development of home-grown Turkovac vaccine and provide mutual recognition of the 'vaccine passport'.
The leaders said Vietnam and Turkey need to continue with consultations and close coordination at international forums and organisations, especially the United Nations.
For the East Sea issue, they emphasised the significance of ensuring the freedom of navigation, aviation, security and peace in the region, and the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).