The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide Vietnam with timely and flexible support for the Vietnamese government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. The ADB president made his remarks at a meeting with Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung on March 20 and a meeting with State Bank of Vietnam Governor Le Minh Hung on March 24. “The Asian Development Bank stands ready to provide financial assistance and policy advice to help the Government of Vietnam contain the spread of COVID-19. We will consider all options including quick-disbursing budget support, policy-based lending, and expedited disbursement of existing loans, to ensure any support package can be approved quickly and disbursed in a timely manner,” the president said. Mr. Asakawa commended the government on its timely and effective actions to combat the pandemic. He also welcomed the government’s focus on maintaining economic stability and growth in the medium and long-term, including expanding public investment expenditure and strengthening social safety nets for poor and vulnerable households. Earlier on March 18, the ADB announced a $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ADB will provide additional support as needed, he added. (Vietnam Finance [1], Thoi Bao Ngan Hang [2], bizhub [3], VietnamNews [4], Hai Quan [5], Bao Chinh Phu [6], CafeF [7], VietnamBiz [8], Nguoi Lao Dong [9], adb [10])