Vietnam seeks China's help for securing Covid vaccines

Speaking with Li by phone on Friday, he sought to reinforce mutual political trust and discuss means to promote bilateral ties, especially socio-economic, according a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two leaders agreed they should strengthen bilateral cooperation for fighting the pandemic.

Chinh also sought China’s cooperation and support for Vietnam to obtain Covid vaccines.

It aims to procure 150 million doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population.

It is only seeking multiple sources for buying, but also technology transfer to produce the vaccines itself.

The Ministry of Health approved on Friday the emergency use of the vaccine of China's Sinopharm. Vero Cell, Inactivated, is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd, subsidiary of China National Biotec Group.

It is the third vaccine to be approved by Vietnam for emergency use after Russia’s Sputnik V and the one made by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca.

Chinh said preserving and developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperation between Vietnam and China is always a top priority and the focus of Vietnam's foreign policy.

Li promised cooperation and support for Vietnam in the fight against Covid-19.

He too said China attaches great importance to relations with Vietnam and is willing to further deepen the friendly neighborly relationship between the two countries to bring practical benefits to their peoples.

Vietnam had vaccinated 1.2 million of its 96-million population against Covid.

It has been dealing with a new wave for over five weeks now and infections have climbed to 5,250 in 37 of its 63 cities and provinces as of Saturday morning.