Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue talks with the medical team of Italy's Emergency System 118, September 13, 2021. (Photo: Hai Linh/VNA)

Balzanelli said he wants a quick signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the medical field, focused on emergency healthcare, training, skills and techniques development, and preparation of guidelines for pandemic emergencies.

Ambassador Hue said the Government and people of Vietnam have been making a great effort to curb the pandemic, but are short of vaccines, medicines, and equipment for treating COVID-19 patients. Vietnam needs help and sharing of experience in pandemic response from international friends, particularly Italy, she said.

A team of doctors from Italy’s Emergency System 118 plan to visit Ho Chi Minh City to consult, support, and transfer COVID-19 screening, treatment and care techniques, and transfer blood plasma and stem cell technology useful for treating COVID-19 patients.