Efforts to increase female NA deputy numbers

The National Committee for the Advancement of Women (NCAW) held a talk in Hanoi on April 14 on the proportion of women in the National Assembly and People’s Council representatives in the 2011-2016 term.

Photo: Vietnam+

In her opening remark, NCAW Chairman and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stressed that to boost the development of women, the Party and State have issued many policies and laws that create favourable conditions for women to become involved in political activities in general, and the NA and People’s Councils at all levels in particular.

However, the proportion of women engaged in politics is yet to match their potential, she said.

At present, the number of women holding key positions in State agencies is very low with one minister and 10 out of 100 deputy ministers. Women only account for 4.67 percent of provincial People’s Council chairpersons and 1.59 percent of provincial People’s Committee chairpersons.

According to the minister, the biggest challenge for the implementation of gender equality in the political sector in Vietnam is social preconceptions. In addition, several different regulations for women and men’s retirement and training limit women’s participation in various aspects of social life.

Emphasising the important and decisive role of the media in changing public awareness of gender equality and the role, position and contributions of women, Ngan asked media agencies to continue boosting activities and messages in support of  women during the elections.
Media agencies should focus on disseminating positive stories on women’s participation in managing agencies in order to help raise the proportion of women in the NA and People’s Council in the 2011-2016 term to 30 percent and above, she said.

VN, Romania boost co-operation

Viet Nam and Romania have agreed to give priority to educational co-operation following a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Chairman of the Romanian House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations Koridi Attila yesterday.

Deputy PM Khiem praised Romania for its skills in education and training, saying many high-ranking leaders in Viet Nam's petrol and construction sectors had studied in the country.

He expressed his delight at the development of the two countries' co-operative relations, especially in education, technology transfer and chemicals.

The Deputy PM said he hoped the visit would contribute to further boosting co-operative relations between the two nations' legislative bodies and States as well as their bilateral relations in general.

Koridi Attila said bilateral diplomatic relations, which were established 61 years ago, would act as a solid foundation for the two governments and peoples to co-operate in many fields for mutual development.

He added that Romania would serve as a bridge linking Viet Nam and the EU after Romania joins the union.

Both host and guest expressed pleasure at a protocol on defence co-operation recently signed between the two governments.

Deputy PM receives DPRK envoy

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem yesterday, April 14, warmly received Ambassador Kim Chang-il of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Khiem expressed his pleasure with expanding co-operative relations between Viet Nam and the DPRK during recent times.

He said he hoped Ambassador Kim Chang-il would actively contribute to strengthening friendship relations between the two countries during his working term in Viet Nam.

Khiem also conveyed his wishes to the DPRK government and people to continue to gain more achievements in the national construction and development process.

For his part, Kim Chang-il praised the great achievements that Vietnamese people made under the leadership of the Vietnamese Communist Party.

He said highly valued the key role of Viet Nam in the international arena and affirmed to strive to further promote relations and co-operation between the two nations.

VNN/VOV/VNS