A Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai participated in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference on women’s economic empowerment in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 25-26.

The event aimed to evaluate new opportunities and challenges for women in the digital era, as well as discuss policies and share experience in promoting gender equality in politics, employment, family, and training.

Increasing the role of women has a crucial meaning in the implementation of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, including poverty reduction, social welfare guarantee, and sustainable and inclusive development.

Speaking at the conference, Mai called on ASEM countries to enhance cooperation and exchange experience in the field.

She highlighted Vietnam’s policies, efforts and achievements in increasing the role of women in socio-economic development after 30 years of “Doi moi” (renewal) process and international integration.

Particularly, the country has accelerated the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls within the framework of the national action plan approved by the Prime Minister in early May 2017 to carry out the UN Agenda 2030.

The ambassador also underlined Vietnam’s active engagement in ASEAN and APEC activities to promote gender equality.

The Southeast Asian nation is scheduled to organise the sixth APEC forum on women and economy in the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue in September as host of the APEC 2017.

After two days of discussion, the conference adopted the Vilnius Statement for submission to the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Myanmar in November and the 12th ASEM Summit in Belgium in 2018.

Delegates agreed to set up a periodical ASEM dialogue mechanism to increase women’s economic empowerment and continue sharing experience on strategies and orientations in the field to ensure non-violence and equal environment for women.

Initiated by Lithuania, the conference received support from China, Japan, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Romania, Sweden, Croatia and Mongolia. It was approved at the 11th ASEM Summit in Mongolia in September 2016.

VNA