The assistance, comprising 1.57 billion VND (over 66,900 USD) and 2,000 hand sanitizer bottles, was presented by the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the club of Vietnamese alumni in Cuba, which called for donations from April 8 to 25.

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At the handover ceremony in Hanoi on April 27

At the handover ceremony in Hanoi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Nguyen Viet Thao, who is also Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, spoke highly of Cuba’s achievements in the COVID-19 combat and expressed his admiration for the country’s solidarity with other nations via the sending of medical experts abroad to assist the disease prevention and control despite numerous difficulties it is facing.

He said the assistance is a sincere gift from the Vietnamese people, including those who used to study and work in Cuba, to join hands with their Cuban peers in the fight against COVID-19.

He also voiced his belief that the country will weather difficulties soon and gain triumph in this combat.

Expressing her thanks, Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera said amidst sanctions hampering her country’s import of face masks and medical equipment, the gift from Vietnam reflects the Vietnamese people’s priceless solidarity with and sentiment for the Cuban people.

She noted that although the Caribbean nation is struggling with the pandemic amid tightened sanctions, the Cuban Party, State and people are still working hard to protect their attainments in socialism building. Besides, her country has sent 1,218 medical experts to 20 nations in European, Latin American and Caribbean, African and Middle Eastern regions to assist anti-COVID-19 efforts.

The diplomat affirmed that the solidarity between the two Parties, States, Governments and peoples, founded by late leader Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh, will be sustained forever and that the coronavirus pandemic will soon be eradicated in both countries and the whole world.

Source: VNA