At a recent meeting between the city’s authorities and around 40 Consuls General, Honorary Consuls, and leaders of international organisations and economic-cultural offices of countries in the city, the delegates extended their words of encouragement and belief that the city will soon take control of and drive back COVID-19 while continuing to bring the city forward.
They stressed their willingness to work side by side and provide support the city in the fight against COVID-19 and shared many proposals and solutions on pandemic prevention and control that have been successfully applied in many parts of the world.
They also pledged to introduce the city’s authorities to reputable partners in manufacturing medical equipment, protective equipment and vaccines.
International organisations operating in the city have also given support to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter to help the city in battling COVID-19.
Accordingly, Cambodian Consul General Sok Dareth presented 25,000 medical face masks. Thai General Consulate and Thai businesses in Ho Chi Minh City gifted 50,000 face masks and VND220 million. Meanwhile, Lotte Group donated VND3.5 billion and President of the Hong Kong Business Association Michael Chiu Kam Kwong sent VND200 million.
Previously, authorities and people of two Lao provinces, Xieng Khouang and Champasak, provided aid totalling VND220 million to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overseas Vietnamese people who are living in countries around the globe have also shared a helping hand to their hometown. Since July 5, the ‘Zero VND meal’ and ‘Zero VND supermarket’ programmes have been launched at Ot Do Restaurant, 13 Nguyen Quang Bich Street, Tan Binh District, to support poor households and disadvantaged people whose livelihoods are badly affected by the pandemic.
The programmes were initiated by Dinh Vinh Cuong, a Vietnamese expat in Japan who is Chairman of 365 Group. Cuong said that he came up with the idea of delivering free meals and launching the ‘Zero VND supermarket’ model after witnessing his fellow countrymen face difficulties caused by COVID-19.
His idea received much support from his family and friends as well as 50 businesses and individuals in the city. According to Cuong, thanks to financial support from donors, the two programs will ensure the provision of adequate necessities to serve people until July 20.
Nguyen Ho Tan, a motorbike taxi driver, said he must suspend his work during the time in which the city is implementing social distancing rules in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Directive 16, thus the programmes have helped his family a lot in overcoming these difficult days.
Phung Cong Dung, Chairman of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City said that the OVs Vietnamese community abroad always pay attention and stand ready to support compatriots at home in the fight against the ravaging pandemic, illustrating the country’s tradition of mutual support as well as the responsibility to the motherland.
