Vietnam – U.S. Forum "Promoting women's participation in international integration”
VWU President Ha Thi Nga makes opening remarks Attending the forum were more than 100 delegates from ministries, party and governmental agencies, central and provincial women’s unions, representatives of female entrepreneurs, experts, artists, the U.S Embassy and some international organizations in Vietnam.
Speaking at the opening session of the Forum, Mrs. Ha Thi Nga emphasized the role of people-to-people exchange in the formation and promotion of Vietnam-U.S relations, including the participation of women from the two countries. She shared about the VWU’s participation and substantial contribution to the bilateral relationship. At the same time, Mrs. Nga highlighted the importance of the panel discussion “Supporting women in international economic integration” in the context of the industrial revolution 4.0 and Covid-19 pandemic which pose both challenges and opportunities for women.
Participants at the Forum
Representing the U.S Embassy, Mr. Christopher Klein, Deputy Chief of Mission affirmed that a key element of the bilateral relationship is the shared commitment to empowering women to participate and lead in the private and public sector, as well as affirming that women's economic empowerment is a priority in the U.S National Security Strategy and early 2020, the U.S launched the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP) with the aim to economically empower 50 million women in the developing world by 2025.
Mr. Christopher Klein, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S Embassy
Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Michael DiGregorio, Country Representative of the Asia Foundation in Vietnam, reiterated his deep memories of Vietnamese and American women that he has met and cooperated with over the past 30 years. He affirmed that women are those who have made important contributions to the development of people-to-people relations of the two countries and this is the real foundation of the integration.
At the Forum, in recognition of Mr. Michael DiGregorio’s contribution to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Vietnam, the VWU awarded him the Merit Medal “For the deveopment of Vietnamese women”.
VWU President Ha Thi Nga awarded the Medal to Mr. DiGregorio
The Forum was conducted with two panel discussion sessions. In the session on "Supporting women in international economic integration", the speakers shared entrepreneurship experience, ways to face and overcome difficulties in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; the successes and initiatives of the business in promoting women’s development as well as giving recommendations to support Vietnamese women in international economic integration in the coming time such as: interest rate reduction, tax support; post-epidemic recovery support; skills improvement for women in the informal sector and female workers aging from 30-40 years old, etc..
Panelist at the discussion on "Supporting women in international economic integration”
At the session on “Promoting women’s role in people-to-people relations between Vietnam and the U.S.”, the speakers shared the ups and downs of the bilateral relationship; the support of the American people to the Vietnamese people during the war and the peace time. Many recommendations were made to promote the role of women in people-to-people exchanges, such as mobilizing more participation of women, diversifying forms, participants and areas of cooperation between the two countries, conneting the young generation, and the participation of 3 pillars - mass organizations, businesses and governments.
Panelist at the discussion on “Promoting women’s role in people-to-people relations between Vietnam and the U.S.”
On the sideline of the Forum, the participants visited Chu Dau Ceramics Joint Stock Company - Vietnam's antique ceramics line in Hai Duong province on the afternoon of the same day. Participants were introduced about the origin and development process of Chu Dau ceramics as well as directly experienced pottery making at the factory, thereby understanding more about ceramic pottery products which carries the special cultural characteristics of Vietnam.
Participants at the factory of Chu Dau Ceramics
The Forum has been a great success, receiving a lot of good recommendations to support women in international economic integration and promoting the role of women in the Vietnam – U.S people-to-people exchange, opening up opportunities for cooperation between American and Vietnamese organizations and agencies in the coming time.
