Vietnam appreciates US support for HIV control
Vietnam highly values the US’s support for its fight against HIV/AIDS, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told US Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby in Hanoi on May 7.
Phuc, who is also head of the National Committee for HIV, AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control, told the guest that Vietnam has approved a national strategy on HIV prevention and control by 2020, focusing on preventive measures against the disease in key localities.
To maintain the obtained achievements, he suggested the US continue support for Vietnam by providing it with anti-HIV medicines such as ARV and methadone, and joining hands with the country to transfer the assistance programmes.
Goosby praised Vietnam’s achievements in AIDS prevention and control, as well as its activeness in tackling difficulties as foreign aid is more limited.
During his two-day visit, he worked with the Ministry of Health and the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs, and visited several central caring for HIV patients and drug addicts.
After hearing reports on the efficiency of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Vietnam, the ambassador affirmed that he will do his utmost to help Vietnam fight this fatal disease.
He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue efforts to fulfill its national strategy on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
The same day, Deputy PM Phuc received Tsuno Motonori, out-going Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam.
Phuc expressed his pleasure at the strong development of Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership and believed that the bilateral ties will further develop in the future.
Japan is one of Vietnam’s leading partners in terms of economics, official development assistance (ODA), trade and investment, he affirmed.
Appreciating Tsuno Motonori’s contributions to Vietnam during his term, the Deputy PM suggested Japan maintain and even increase its ODA for Vietnam as well as cooperating with the country in implementing strategic large-scale projects, particularly in infrastructure and energy.
For his part, Tsuno Motonori said in his new position as Director of the JICA Kansai Centre, he will continue contributing to Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation.