APPF-29: Parliaments should step up actions to ensure gender equality
Parliaments should take more actions with a focus on policies and strategies on recovery, thus meeting gender equality requirements, a Vietnamese representative said at the online Meeting of Women Parliamentarians within the 29th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-29), hosted by the Republic of Korea (RoK) on December 13.
Permanent member of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Ha (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Parliaments should takemore actions with a focus on policies and strategies on recovery, thus meetinggender equality requirements, a Vietnamese representative said at the online Meetingof Women Parliamentarians within the 29th Annual Meeting of the Asia-PacificParliamentary Forum (APPF-29), hosted by the Republic of Korea (RoK) onDecember 13.
Addressing the meeting, permanent member of theVietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Hasuggested legislatures give more resources to tackling gender equality-relatedissues, and increase the number of female parliamentarians.
She pointed out great challenges to gender equalitydue to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, stressing thatit is time for parliaments to take bold actions to reach gender equality andwomen’s empowerment during the post-pandemic recovery.
The official introduced Vietnam’s legal framework andnational strategy on gender equality through different periods of time, whichare set to reform national action programmes for the progress of Vietnamesewomen.
Vietnam has also joined relevant internationalcommitments, including the Convention is monitored by the Committee on theElimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the BeijingDeclaration and Platform for Action, she said.
Delegates at the meeting agreed on the need to step upactions of parliaments to achieve gender equality, gender sensitivity andgender responsive approach in dealing with pandemic consequences.
The Vietnamese NA co-sponsored two draft resolutions,comprising one achieving gender equality through increasing women’sparticipation and representation, and another on promoting gender-basedCOVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery./.
A programme to implement the National Strategy on Gender Equality in the 2021–2030 period and the Vietnam Population Strategy by 2030 was launched by the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour on December 6.
An international workshop on the role of national action programmes in promoting the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda was jointly held in Hanoi on December 7 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations (UN) Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
The rate of women in the Vietnamese workforce has reached over 70 percent, a high level in the world, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Permanent member of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Ha (Photo: VNA) 
