President Truong Tan Sang on March 21 received Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Beleke Geleta in Hanoi, on the occasion of the latter’s working visit to Vietnam.

The State leader highlighted Vietnam’s humanitarian tradition and said the country always pays great attention to social welfare and poverty reduction, despite its relatively low income.

He also recalled the assistance by international Red Cross societies to Vietnam in the past, confirming that the Vietnamese Party and State are willing to work with these organisations to effectively carry out charitable activities.

The President suggested the IFRC continue promoting its role in coordinating relief work in Vietnam and helping the Vietnam Red Cross (VRD) with technical support, finance, projecs management and enhancing necessary skills to cope with natural calamities.

Geleta briefed the host on the federation’s latest activities and underlined the VRD initiatives that can be shared with other countries in the region.

The official expressed the hope that Vietnam will give more support to the federation and that the VRD will become increasingly involved in the global humanitarian network.-VNA