A conference took place in Hanoi on June 25 to discuss the role that women play in sustainable development and international integration. Vice National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended the event.

The conference marked the conclusion of a two-year cooperation programme between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to improve the leadership capacity of women in the context of economic integration.

Within the programme’s framework, the ministry worked with local sectors and localities to carry out various activities to raise public awareness of gender equality and accelerate the progress of Vietnamese women.

The ministry also coordinated with the UNDP to promote international cooperation in the field and strengthen experience exchanges with other countries, contributing to designing policies for women workers and enhancing social consensus in gender equality.

Pratibha Mehta, UNDP Representative in Vietnam, said Vietnam has made tremendous development progress, to which both men and women have made equal contributions. However, in the past few years the number of women in parliament and senior positions has fallen.

Addressing the event, NA Vice Chairwoman Ngan said the Party and Government have paid much consideration to gender equality and the progress of women.

She added that Vietnam has recorded a number of achievements that have been recognised by the international community.

However, she said Vietnam has faced many difficulties in the work, requiring greater efforts to renovate the approach to gender equality, which is vital for sustainable development and international integration.

She also voiced the need to review, adjust and implement policies and laws on gender equality.-VNA