Hanoi (VNA) – Vice President Vo Thi AnhXuan on October 19 hosted a reception for female ambassadors and chargésd' affaires from foreign diplomatic representative agencies in Vietnam on the occasion of the Vietnamese Women’s Day (October 20).
At the meeting, Xuan highlighted Vietnamese women’s greatcontributions to the country’s reform and international integration, as well asachievements Vietnam has recorded in women’s empowerment in various spheres.
She also reiterated Vietnam’s consistent priority ofpromoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.
The country has made progress in raising genderequality in politics, the Vice President said, adding that women account for30.26 percent of the National Assembly deputies, the highest over the past 45years, and half of leaders of ministries and ministerial-level agencies.
The rate of women-led businesses also reaches 26.5percent, placing Vietnam sixth among countries with the highest number ofbusinesswomen, Xuan continued.
She suggested the ambassadors and chargés d'affaires further contribute to facilitating travelling and trading between thecountries, and boosting exchanges and meetings of all-level delegations,preparing for cooperation post COVID-19.
The Vice President also called for tightenedcooperation in promoting gender equality, both bilaterally and multilaterally,for sustainable development goals, and for a dynamic, inclusive and prosperousfuture.
She expressed her hope that with the existingfoundation, efforts by the diplomats and Vietnam’s initiatives, relationsbetween Vietnam and countries will prosper in the time ahead.
For their part, the diplomats said Vietnam alwaysstrongly supports women’s rights and gender equality to fully uphold their roleand power in national construction and defence, and raise their position inpolitical, economic, cultural and social fields.
Vietnam has continuously taken the lead in agendason women, peace and security, both regionally and internationally, they said,noting that more and more Vietnamese women officers have joined UN peacekeepingoperations, making an example for other countries.
They expressed their readiness to cooperate withVietnam in issues relating to gender equality through different means and formssuch as development cooperation, business and trade initiatives, policy dialoguesand experience sharing to better empower women and girls./.