Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday met female leaders and managers from central agencies and presented the 2025 Kovalevskaia Award.

Over the past four decades (1985–2025), the Kovalevskaia Award has honored 22 collectives and 57 female scientists for outstanding research in natural sciences and basic sciences, with high practical application and strong impact on the country’s scientific development.

The 2025 Kovalevskaia Award was presented to one collective and one individual.

According to reports and opinions shared at the event, the proportion of women participating in Party committees and female deputies in People’s Councils in the new term is higher than in the previous term. Among central-level leadership positions, there are currently 21 women serving on the 14th Party Central Committee and three women in the Politburo and Secretariat.

The average proportion of female members in provincial Party committees is nearly 18.7 percent, while the national average for commune-level Party committees reaches nearly 27.4 percent. Women account for nearly 30.3 percent of deputies in the 15th National Assembly - the highest level in 45 years and among the leading rates in Asia. The proportion of female candidates for the 16th National Assembly is nearly 45.4 percent.

Many women now hold general-level ranks in the military and public security forces. Numerous female intellectuals, experts and scientists have produced significant research and received prestigious awards.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that in any circumstance or position, Vietnamese women always embody the country’s most admirable values. They are those who tirelessly "embroider flowers and weave brocade", creating new achievements that add vibrant colors to the nation’s landscape and contribute important building blocks to a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

The Party and the State, he said, have always paid special attention to women, issuing many policies that affirm their role and create opportunities for them to contribute across all areas of socio-economic life and national defense.

In recent years, efforts to advance women’s development have achieved many positive results. However, the Prime Minister also noted that existing limitations and shortcomings must be frankly acknowledged and addressed.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, the Prime Minister recognized and praised the extraordinary efforts and important contributions made by female leaders, managers and scientists to the nation’s development.

On this occasion, he also expressed appreciation to former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Kovalevskaia Award Committee, and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, the committee’s first chairwoman, for their dedication to promoting education and the Kovalevskaia Award over the years.

The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to Vietnamese women across the country - those who tirelessly devote themselves to their families, communities and society, as well as to the homeland.

He noted that Vietnam is entering a new era, pursuing economic growth of 10 percent or higher while striving to realize two strategic centennial goals. The country is also focusing on four fundamental transformations: digital transformation, green transformation, energy transition, and restructuring combined with improving the quality of human resources.

In the process of development and at the heart of these transformations, Vietnamese women represent a powerful internal resource and active participants capable of leading and shaping new opportunities.

The Prime Minister called for greater attention to building institutions and policies that foster female leadership at all levels. He encouraged the creation of favorable conditions for women to demonstrate initiative and creativity in scientific research and contribute more deeply to the country’s strategic development goals, particularly in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transition.

Women’s unions at all levels should continue strengthening their role as representatives of women from all walks of life in policy consultation and development, becoming a common home and a trusted address for women nationwide. They should proactively and creatively promote movements to build the image of Vietnamese women in the new era while supporting women in digital transformation, green transition and economic development.

The Kovalevskaia Award Committee was also encouraged to continue identifying and honoring more outstanding female collectives and individuals with excellent scientific research achievements that have strong application value and wide social impact.

The Prime Minister also proposed studying and submitting to competent authorities a new annual award titled “Talented - Creative - Dedicated Women”, to be presented every year on October 20 to honor the contributions and dedication of Vietnamese women.

Tran Thuong