Hanoi (VNA) - National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 18 for a delegation from the Belarusian Women’s Union led by its President Olga Aleksandrovna Shpilevskaya, who also heads the national branch of the MIR Interstate Television and Radio Company in Belarus.
Thanh underscored the enduring traditional friendship between Vietnam and Belarus, which has been cultivated by their successive generations of leaders. Bilateral ties have expanded in recent years, making critical contributions to the national development of each nation. A key milestone, she said, was the elevation of the relationship to a Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Belarus in May, which opened a new chapter in their collaboration.
She expressed satisfaction upon learning that the Belarusian Women’s Union and the Vietnam Women’s Union will sign a Memorandum of Understanding during the current visit, focusing on three key areas of cooperation, alongside several activities across Vietnamese localities. These activities will deepen collaboration between the two unions and facilitate the sharing of valuable experience on national development, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, she said.
Briefing the delegation on the 15th National Assembly’s ongoing 10th session in Hanoi, she noted that the Vietnamese legislature is discussing preparations for the 2026–2031 election cycle. One of the key goals is to ensure that women make up at least 30% of deputies in the legislature and People’s Councils at all levels.
The host hoped that the two unions would continue to share experience and initiatives promoting peace, culture and human compassion; actively share insights on women’s political participation to strengthen their empowerment, thereby contributing to national development and global progress. She also stressed the importance of continued mutual support in bilateral, multilateral and international forums.
Shpilevskaya, for her part, hailed Vietnam as one of Belarus’s key partners in Asia and an engine of global economic growth. Over more than three decades, she noted, bilateral friendship and cooperation have expanded across multiple fields. Cooperation between the two unions would contribute to the broader bilateral socio-economic and cultural relationship.
Sharing her impressions of Vietnamese women, she said women in both countries share similarities, including valuing peace, preserving family traditions and playing an active role in protecting women and children./.
