President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed both parties’ commitment to stronger bilateral and regional cooperation in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a telephone conversation requested by the Vietnam Prime Minister on Tuesday, both leaders discussed the importance of maintaining adequate supply of staple food and critical medical equipment and supplies to successfully combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte thanked Phuc for guaranteeing the long-term supply of rice to the Philippines. This is critical as Viet Nam is the country’s top source of rice imports.
Phuc told Duterte: “We assure you that Vietnam will continue to supply rice to the Philippines on a long-term basis at competitive prices.”
To which Duterte responded with a sincere thank you: “the Philippines thanks Vietnam for its kind support in assuring supply of rice.”
Duterte also stressed to Phuc the need to implement key Asean initiatives to combat Covid-19, especially the Asean Response Fund and Asean Regional Reserve Medical Supplies.
The Filipino leader also expressed interest in sharing best practices between the Philippines and Vietnam with regard to its Covid-19 response efforts. Phuc, on the other hand, lauded the Philippine government’s comprehensive approach against Covid-19.
“We appreciate the strong measures of the Philippines in fighting Covid-19, including preventing community transmission, implementing community quarantine measures and providing social protection to the Filipino people,” Phuc added.
Noting the importance of regional cooperation to address Covid-19 and other emerging diseases, Duterte assured Phuc of the Philippines’ continued support for Vietnam’s Chairmanship of Asean.
