Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam and Japan have closelycooperated in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said VietnameseAmbassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam.

According to the diplomat, since the pandemic outbreak, leaders of the two countrieshave joined video bilateral and multilateral meetings to come up with solutionsfor disease prevention.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has held phone talks with his Japanese counterpartAbe Shinzo, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hasspoken with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu.

During these meetings and conversations, the two sides proposed drasticmeasures to combat the disease and help their citizens overcome difficulties amidthe pandemic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry ofHealth, Labour and Welfare of Japan have coordinated smoothly with Vietnam’s Ministryof Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and Ministry of Health to arrangethe repatriation of Japanese citizens in Vietnam and Vietnamese people inJapan.

Vietnam has provided the maximum support for flights to bring Japanese peoplehome and extended visas for Japanese citizens stranded in Vietnam.

Nam highly valued Japan’s policies to support its citizens and foreigners whohave been affected by the disease.

Japan has allowed automatic visa extensions for all expired visa holders. Japanesesmall and-medium-sized enterprises have been supported to maintain productionand business activities, thus recruiting foreign labourers, including thosefrom Vietnam.

The Japanese Government has also provided cashassistance to both its citizens and foreigners.

Regarding medical assistance, Nam highly appreciated the Japanese Government'sfree treatment for foreign COVID-19 patients in the context of high medicalexpenses in the country.

Medical support centres have been established across Japan, benefitingforeigners in general and the Vietnamese community in the country inparticular, Nam said.

Vietnam and Japan have also partnered in providing medical supplies and manufacturingventilators, as well as enhanced sharing of information related to the disease.

Along with preventing the pandemic, the two countries have maintained bilateraleconomic relations, the diplomat said.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Vietnamese Ministry of ForeignAffairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Embassy of Vietnam inJapan are coordinating to bring Japanese experts and managers back to Vietnam forproduction and business activities in the Southeast Asian nation./.