Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked AstraZeneca to accelerate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam during a phone talk with the firm’s CEO Pascal Soriot on Thursday.

During the conversation, PM Chinh praised AstraZeneca’s role in and contributions to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the world and in Vietnam.

The premier stressed that Vietnam is determined to secure COVID-19 vaccines for its residents as soon as possible and suggested that Soriot hasten AstraZeneca’s deliveries to the country to meet contract stipulations.

As part of a bid to acquire more vaccines, the leader requested that AstraZeneca look into the possibility of Vietnam borrowing or purchasing jabs from countries without a present need.

PM Chinh also requested AstraZeneca to step up the implementation of contracts on vaccines for children and those aged below 18, as well as for people at high risk or with underlying diseases.

The Vietnamese government encourages and creates favorable conditions for foreign firms to operate and expand operations in Vietnam, and intends to leverage its strategic, comprehensive, and long-term partnership with AstraZeneca in order to boost the country’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Vietnam’s diplomatic mission in the UK will be tasked with working directly with AstraZeneca to promote cooperation between both sides.

Soriot spoke highly of Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, especially its vaccination strategy, adding that AstraZeneca hopes for long-term cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

The CEO pledged to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam on time and increase vaccine supplies to the country in August.

This was the second time in a short period that PM Chinh had directly spoken with a senior representative of AstraZeneca to accelerate the delivery of vaccines, reflecting the government’s determination to carry out its vaccine diplomacy policy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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