There remains gender inequality in Vietnam, participants were told at a seminar which is being held in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Sept. 6-7.

Themed “Gender issue and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals in Vietnam”, the seminar is hosted by the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, drawing a large number of NA deputies and officials from concerned ministries and localities.

Most of the speeches delivered at the event pointed out the fact that there is an imbalance in terms of poverty reduction among regions and ethnic minority groups.

The gap between the rich and poor tends to widen, while the risk of relapsing into poverty is still high, the delegates heard.

However, many of speakers agreed that Vietnam has reaped achievements in poverty reduction, education universalisation and HIV/AIDS control, citing its efforts to reduce the poverty rate to 11 percent at present from over 20 percent in 2005 and the accomplished universalisation of primary education 10 years ago.

Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals would also help Vietnam promote gender equality./.