The event was meant tocelebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-LaosTreaty of Amity and Cooperation, the 55th anniversary of theVietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 50th anniversary ofVietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties.
Speaking at the event, DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said throughout the history,the three countries’ women unions have stayed side by side to fight for thesake of national independence, gender equality and development.
Hailing the theme of theevent, Minh affirmed that in regional and global commitments, attention hasbeen paid to women issues while gender equality is considered both goal andprerequisite for sustainable development.
He expressed his belief thatthe three women’s unions will continue coordination and propose measures inresponse to common challenges at present. At the same time, he urged them to renewapproaches and take stronger actions to nurture the three countries’ friendshipand prosperity, thus laying foundation for an ASEAN Community of peace,stability and sustainable and inclusive development.
Chairwoman of the VietnamWomen’s Union Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said following the signed cooperationagreements, the three women’s unions have contributed to people-to-peoplediplomacy and effectively collaborated in poverty reduction, rural development,vocational training and job creation for women, health care for women andgirls, tourism and border issues.
Inlavan Keobunphanh, Chairwoman of the Lao Women’s Union, emphasised the needto boost cooperation between the Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian women’s unionsfor sustainable development.
Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and President of the Cambodian Women for Peace and Development Men SamAn believed that the three women’s unions would contribute to peace andsocio-economic development in the three countries and the region as well.
Participants sharedexperience in improving women empowerment, particularly in economic andpolitical fields, preventing women and child trafficking, promoting tourism andinternational cooperation, and educating young generations about thedevelopment of traditional friendship and collaboration among women in thethree countries.
They suggested building legalregulations on gender equality and women empowerment, accelerating the deliveryof regional and global commitments on sustainable development, gender equalityand women advancement while strengthening the operation of the three women’sunions.-VNA