The fifth international workshop of the Regional Network on Poverty Eradication (RENPER) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 22 with the aim of devising cooperation programmes and strategies for sustainable reduction of poverty.

Established in 2010, the network brings together universities in South and Southeast Asia in the fight against poverty in the region and beyond.

It also offers a prime opportunity for policy makers and researchers from governmental and non-governmental organisations to share relevant studies in the field.

At the RENPER event this year, 80 reports will be presented over the course of three days, sharing research results on the situation of poverty in regional countries and proposing solutions to sustainable poverty alleviation.

The rate of poor households in Vietnam dropped from 22 percent in 2005 to 7.8 percent last year, reports the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. The proportion is expected to reduce to below five percent in 2015 and fall by about 1.5 percent annually until 2020.-VNA