Communist Party of Vietnam

Leading role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the fuaght against Covid-19

Comrade Hoang Binh Quan Member of the Central Committee Chairman of the Commission for External Relations Communist Party of Vietnam

The Covid-19 pandemic is dangerously raging all over the world, seriously impacting human health and life, and profoundly affecting all aspects of global political and socio-economic lives. While there has been no radical solution, many countries are struggling against the second wave of the pandemic with numerous potential risks and complicated developments. Therefore, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) considers the Covid-19 pandemic the biggest test for national governance model, domestic social consensus, international solidarity and global leadership.

The Covid-19 pandemic has emerged in a world of difficulties: slow global economic growth, protracted trade wars, increasing social fragmentation and injustice, political tensions and conflicts in many countries. The outbreak of such health crisis has pushed the world and humanity to the edge of numerous serious threats, including a deadly tragedy that causes loss of life, a daily life that would be affected in all apsects and possibly a full-scale global crisis. So far, there are more than 30 million infections, hundreds thousands of deaths, and these numbers have not stopped increasing. The global economic growth is projected at -4.5% this year, forcing 25 million people out of jobs and 1.1 billion worldwide into extreme poverty.

Being one of the first countries hit by Covid-19, the pandemic situation in Vietnam witnessed complexities but basically is now under control after two waves of transmission. In fact, Covid-19 infection rate in Vietnam is very low when compared to the rest of the world. As of September 27, a total of 1,074 cases were recorded, 999 people had recovered and less than 40 deaths, the majority of whom were elderly or suffering from chronic diseases. Recording no community transmission in 25 straight days (02/9-27/9) proves that Vietnam has successfully controlled the second wave of the pandemic. In its first wave, Vietnam also had successfully managed with 415 cases recorded, 0 deaths and had gone 99 consecutive days without community transmission cases.

As soon as the pandemic threatened to infect Vietnam, the Communist Party of Vietnam has paid special attention to pandemic prevention and control from the viewpoints and under the mottos of “Fighting the pandemic is like fighting enemies”, “Putting human health first and foremost” and “Leaving no one behind” while implementing a “dual task” of curbing the disease and maintaining socio-economic stability at the same time. Accordingly, the Communist Party and the Government of Vietnam have proactively and promptly executed decisive and coherent strat-

egies and mobilized the entire political system and community to address the pandemic, securing people’s health and lives, including: ‣ Control and isolate the sources of disease transmission, early detect cases, screen and isolate patients with strictness and efficiency; adopt stringent social distancing measures in order to minimize the contagion; early develop treatment regimen for Covid-19 and mobilize medical staffs and best available medical resources to cure the infected cases, whether they are Vietnamese or not; ‣ Mobilize the entire society to participate in the fight under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. All Vietnamese citizens voluntarily obey the Party and Government’s directions, willingly contribute to helping fight the pandemic. Upholding the pioneering role in localities, especially in pandemic-hit areas, all CPV’s members are always exemplary, responsible and enthusiastic in all activities at the grassroots, with the spirit of “walking alley by alley, knocking door by door, checking case by case”. Besides, CPV members always put the collective interests above the individual’s interests, actively mobilize and encourage citizens to take measures to prevent and control the pandemic. ‣ Implement a number of information-education-communication measures in a timely, prompt, effective and transparent manner to raise public awareness of self-protection and community protection.

Apart from the ongoing domestic efforts, the Communist Party and Government of Vietnam has also exchanged information and shared experiences with other parties, countries, joining hands with peoples around the world and the international community to combat the pandemic. In spite of various domestic difficulties, the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and its limited medical resources, Vietnam has shared, in accordance with its capability, its resources and provided medical materials and equipment, including masks, personal protective equipment, and tests kits, to more than 50 countries, helping their governments with more facilities to protect people’s lives and their peoples to overcome difficulties. It has also actively supported other countries’ citizens in Vietnam and provided treatment to those confirmed with Covid-19. In the first stage of the pandemic, Vietnam gave free treatment to all Covid-19 patients, whether they were Vietnamese or foreigners. With gratitude, Vietnam has also received precious encouragement, support and assistance from other parties, countries and the international community.

In the coming time, as the disease is continuously and strongly hitting the world, the Party and Government of Vietnam remain highly focused in controlling the contagion, avoid a false sense of success and loosing the grip, and has, therefore, planned scenarios with respective measures to tackle the pandemic at various levels; at the same time continue promoting the initial success in implementing the “dual task”, well ensuring people’s lives and livelihoods.

We all acknowledge that, in a tightly interconnected world, no single efforts could overcome these great challenges. The more united we are, the more thwarted the virus becomes. Either the whole world will turn difficulties into actions, fight the pandemic together, or it will never be defeated. In the spirit of “In Solidarity We Win”, Vietnam wishes all countries and political parties to strengthen international cooperation, promote solidarity and support each other. First, with transparent and open spirit, we need strong policy coordination, timely and regular exchanges of information and experience and technical and resource assistance. Second, people must be placed at the top priority; therefore, we must secure the safety of citizens who are in affected areas, treat the infected with humanitarian spirit, ensure that expatriate citizens to be provided with sufficient information regarding suitable health safety habits and to be cured in case of infection. Third, concerted actions should be developed to ensure that Covid-19 outbreak does not lead to separation, ostracism and discrimination among countries and among peoples. Fourth, the role of multilateral institutions should be highlighted in promoting common efforts to fight the pandemic.

We, the Communist Party of Vietnam, reiterate that Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest test for national governance model, domestic social consensus, international solidarity and global leadership. Therefore, in order to protect the health and lives of all strata of the people, Vietnam hopes that countries, political parties, especially communist and workers’ parties, will further promote spirit of solidarity and cooperation to not only control and prevent pandemic within each country, but also suppress pandemic worldwide.